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Thursday, June 27, 2019

Let Faith, Not Fear, Rule My Heart

In review of Matthew 20:31 it says,“Many of the people scolded them and told them to be quiet. But they shouted even louder, ‘Son of David, have mercy on us!'”

Today’s verse is from Matthew 20:31 where Jesus heals two blind beggars who shouted out to Jesus. The crowd told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!”o 

When they heard that Jesus was coming that way, the blind beggars began shouting. These blind men could see that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah, while the religious leaders who witnessed Jesus' miracles were blind to his identity, refusing to open their eyes to the truth. Seeing with my eyes doesn't guarantee seeing with my heart. Also, although Jesus was concerned about the coming events in Jerusalem, he demonstrated to the disciples what he had just told them about service by stopping to care for the blind men

If I’m going to make a fresh start with faith in my life, I have to face my fears. I shouldn’t let them control me! Fear has an incredible ability to paralyze my potential, to keep me from launching out and having faith in my life.

When I choose fear over faith, it makes me skeptical, I’m afraid of trying anything new when I’m afraid. It makes me selfish, I’m afraid to commit to God and to others. It makes me short-sighted, I focus on the past and not on the future.

The blind men faced a fear that is familiar: the fear of rejection. They knew that to shout out at Jesus in that crowd wasn’t the right thing to do. They knew that people would look down on them for it, but they were desperate, and knew that Jesus Christ was the only one who could help them.

And look what happened: When they shouted out to Jesus, everyone around him told them, “Don’t do that. Be quiet. Don’t make a scene. Surely Jesus Christ isn’t interested in you. He has more important things to do.”

The enemy whispers things like that to me. When that opportunity for faith comes into my heart, thoughts like, “God surely wouldn’t be interested in you” or “Don’t make a scene” or “What would people think of you?” keep me from having faith. When I see an opportunity to change, there are all kinds of shouts from inside and around me that tell me not to rock the boat.

But God is asking me to do something greater than I’ve ever done before: He’s asking me to depend on him completely. This will feel a little bit scary? Of course it is. And when God asks something of me, I have a choice. Am I going to fall back on my fear and stay the way I am? Or am I going to tame my fear and step forward in faith?

In summary, my fear will try to silence me, however, I need to push beyond this and ask Jesus to have mercy on me. Face my fears and not let them control me. Also, no matter how busy I am, I need to make time to stop and serve others when they need it. When the opportunity for faith comes into my heart, I shouldn't let the enemy talk me out of it. God is asking me to depend on him completely. I have a choice, fall back on fear r step forward in faith.

As I reflect on this today, I know I still look for others approval and confirmation. I tend to find it easier to play it safe than risk. This morning I pray that God would help me receive his protection from what others think by my trust in him. I also ask for his wisdom and guidance for my day, my work tasks, my leadership and my interaction with others. I ask this through your Son Jesus name, amen.

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