Today in the Word for January 26-February 3
Today in The Word
Tuesday Jan 26, 2021
The pandemic and this past year has generated a full quota of fears. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. As Christians, are we immune from fears? Not according to II Corinthians 7:5. Paul says:
“For when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within.”
Paul was in a stressful, ‘under attack’ time, and he had internal fears. We are not to think we are bad believers to feel fear. David felt the same while first on the run from a paranoid King Saul. In fact, when trying to blend in to Philistine territory, he became noticed by the Philistine king and pretended to be insane to escape. He sings in Psalm 34:4-6:
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears…This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles.”
We are not wrong to experience various fears in stressful times, but we can seek out closer relationship with the Lord, and he can lift those fears. The Lord cares about us, and is capable to rescue us when troubles abound. He can help us manage what scares us.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Jan 27 2021
Many people feel afraid this past year and they have responded by striking fear in others. That would apply to both Portland street mobs and DC Capitol building mobs. Both tried to strike fear in their perceived enemies. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Instead of trying to strike fear, are there other choices for a Christ-follower to make? Psalm 34:13 offers this from David who has been afraid:
“keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.”
When afraid, we have a tendency to speak badly of ‘the other side’. With the advent of the internet, that tendency has exploded. And much of what we pass on to our friend network would be properly called gossip. It is not verifiable truth. It is just rumor.
In the midst of this scary time, keep your mouth. Be careful of what you pass on and strictly eliminate speaking evil of others. Let us not seek to strike fear in others, but instead:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt…” (Colossians 4:6)
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Thursday Jan 28 2021
Many people feel afraid this past year and they have responded by attempting to strike fear in others. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Instead of trying to strike fear, are there other choices for a Christ-follower to make? Psalm 34:14 offers this from David who has been afraid:
“Turn from evil and do good…”
Plotting harm of our perceived enemies will not lower our fear. We need to turn from such evil. We need to repent of such plans. But our fears can be lowered by doing good. When we are proactive to help. When we take the initiative to do good to our fellow human, it suppresses our fears.
In a time of pandemic we can find it difficult to operate in our usual pattern of doing good for others. May the Lord help us to be creative to find real avenues of doing good. It is a great way to lower our fear quotient.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Friday Jan 29 2021
Feeling afraid has been pretty universal this past year. Many have responded by attempting to strike fear in others. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Instead of trying to strike fear Psalm 34:14 offers this from David who has been afraid:
“…seek peace and pursue it.”
James 3:17-18 echoes David’s point:
“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving…Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”
Instead of seeking to change others by striking fear in them, we should seek peace. Do we want to be troublemakers or peacemakers? Peace does not happen automatically. It must be pursued. It must be cultivated. We make it.
In a world of media that seems devoted to riling people up, we can be devoted to calming people down. Peace is one of the fruit of the Spirit. And we can appeal to Holy Spirit to help us bear this fruit.
Pursue peace. It will necessarily reduce fear—both practically and emotionally.
And that’s the Word. Tune in Sundays at 10:30 on the Deer Lodge Assembly Facebook page for our Livestreamed service or join us at the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Monday Feb 1, 2021
There is so much that generates fear in us this past year. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16, and then states in I Peter 3:14:
“But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened.”
Instead of giving in to fear, Peter encourages in I Peter 3:8:
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded..”
Peter did not mean think exactly alike. The word generates the idea of harmony. He calls us to live in harmony with each other. Not unison, but a blend. Not lock-step but not locking others out either. We do not have to agree on aspects of the pandemic. We do not have to back the same candidates. We do not have to watch the same news channels and blogs. If we are fellow-believers in the work of grace done by Jesus on the cross, then we can live in harmony in spite of our differing opinions.
And when we live in harmony, our fears have a tendency to dissipate.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in The Word
Tuesday Feb 2, 2021
There is so much that generates fear in us this past year. Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. Peter quotes Psalm 34:12-16, and states in I Peter 3:8:
“…be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate…”
The angry and loud actions of others generate fear. Mobs clashing with police, in either Portland streets or on the Capitol lawn frighten us. We can disagree with what they are doing, but we can extend sympathy toward them. They are afraid and lashing out. The lashing out is neither helpful or right, but we can extend empathy. When we try to imagine what it would be like to walk in their shoes for a few days, we are doing something Christ-like. After all, did he not come to earth to walk in our feet for a few decades? Jesus crossed the universe to bridge the distance to us. He can help us bridge the distance to others.
And when we act in compassion, we neutralize our own fears. Instead of demonizing others, we humanize them.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.
Today in the Word
Wednesday Feb 3, 2021
When we are the target of the loud yelling of others, what do we do? Welcome to The Word with Pastor David. I Peter 3:9 states:
“Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called…”
Who called us to repay insult with blessing? Jesus did in Matthew 5:43-45:
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love you neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”
If God gives the basic blessings of sunshine and moisture to everyone on the planet regardless of their spiritual state, can we follow his lead? Can we offer basic blessing on those who insult us? Can we pray God’s good on those who persecute us? We don’t have to respond tit for tat. We can bless. When we do, we are really God’s kids. And when we do, we take a mighty swing at knocking down the fear in our gut.
And that’s The Word from Pastor David of Deer Lodge Assembly on the corner of 5th and Montana.