Fear

Part 1

I was cutting the grass and saw some caterpillars, which I am highly afraid of. At first sight of them, I decided that I would just call it quits. It would be easy. My dad would mow the lawn, and I would just end up losing fifty dollars. Like I said, it would be easy.

Right then, however, my iPod started to play “Voice of Truth” by Casting Crowns. God used it to speak to me. I then decided to trust the Lord and step out of my comfort zone. I cited the song’s lyrics to my Savior as I followed Him through the job. Within no time, the part of the lawn in which I was currently working on was complete.

After cutting a while longer, I ran into even more caterpillars. That’s when the enemy tried to knock me down. Terrified, I asked my dad to do the rest. Yet, even then, Satan had failed to win. God was much too powerful.

As I walked away, I felt urged by the Lord to go back. I paused and looked back at my dad who was about to get started. Then, with complete trust in my Heavenly Father, I reclaimed the task. As I finished the yard, I commended the Lord on His victory by whispering, “Praise the Lord! It’s a miracle. Today, I have overcome my greatest fear.”

Part 2

Alright! The testimony was great, but now it’s time to go into the Bible. I will be using a friend’s explanation of two types of fear. I’m talking about the fear of God and fear of things such as caterpillars. Let’s begin.

I asked my friend for help discussing 1 John 4:18 because I did not fully understand what it was saying. God led me to this wonderful and gifted woman and asked that I cite her explanation. Anyhow, the verse reads, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment.He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Once again, that was 1 John 4:18.

Now, here is how I misunderstood it. I did not properly define “fearing God.” This is how my friend explained it: “We are to fear sinning against God and breaking his commandments. However, if we do sin, Jesus is always willing to forgive us.” By the way, the way that fearing God came into my misunderstanding is that the Bible says that God is love.

Anyways, I will continue by sharing her explanation of both types of fear. First, I will need to read from verse 16 to 19. Here it is:

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.We love him, because he first loved us. (1 John 4:16-19)”

My friend said, “We are to fear sinning against God and breaking His commandments. However, if we do sin, Jesus is always willing to forgive us. His love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of Judgment; (with assurance and boldness to face him), so he who is afraid has not reached the maturity of love, it is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection.We have to strive daily to love the way Jesus tells us to.This is done by daily searching our hearts and renewing our minds.”

I think that what is said there is good enough to end with. I hope that it answers any question that you may have. I not only hope but pray, as well. May God bless, ya’ll. Oh! And remember that Jesus loves you! 

The Biblical Definition of an Idol

                What is an idol? Could an idol be a person… Or can we only classify a man-made statue as an idol? That is the reason for my presence today. I will be telling you the Bible’s definition for the word “idol.” So, sit on back in that comfy recliner of yours and read on.

                Let’s begin by tuning in to Exodus 20:2-3. There it says, “I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.” Basically, idols count as gods. We are to have no idols before the Lord.

                Now, here is where it goes to talk about an idol and the definition of an idol. In Exodus 20:4-5 it is written, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me.” Well, there you have it! An idol is anything or anyone that means more to you than God himself. That means that a celebrity, an electronic and pretty much anything else imaginable can be shaped into an idol.

                With that in mind, make sure that you keep God your life’s number one focus. Don’t get lost in worldly luxuries. God loves you and wants for you to love him back. Just like the scripture above said, He is a jealous God. He wants you to love and worship him no matter what. The Lord is jealous for you.