"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!"

“Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!”

I sometimes experience fear because I am well aware of how vulnerable I am.  A microscopic virus can lay me low. An out of control tractor trailer truck can smash my car.  I live with the up's and down's of the national economy.  And, there are my own weaknesses. Robert Robinson wrote: “Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love.”  (Come Thou Fount)  No, I am not a coward, but I do grow fearful from time to time.   I can do some limited risk management, which will reduce the possibility of disease, disaster, or disgrace entering my life.  But, there is no perfect guarantee that any of us can eliminate all risk!  However, I do not spend a whole lot of time focusing on the potential dangers that lurk all around me.  There is simply too much living to do!    I will not let fear take away the joy of living. 

Wrapped around the uncertainties of life is the promise that I am held secure in the love and care of my Almighty Abba! My life is in His hands.  Either I trust Him or I do not; there is no middle ground.  He is Lord of all, or He is not Lord at all.   That is why when fear comes knocking my first response is to reaffirm my understanding of His rule over every part of my life and my desire to live in the center of His will. 

In the story of the birth of Christ the phrase, "Fear not!" is recorded on three separate occasions when persons encountered the messengers of the Lord.   

• Mary, when she was told that she would be the mother of Jesus, was not elated.  Luke tells us that at first she was "confused and disturbed," by God's will.   But, the angel assured her that God's favor would rest on her and then he said, "Fear not!"   

• Joseph heard that his fiancé was pregnant and he knew he had not slept with her.   He was torn between his desire to love her and his honor.   He had decided to quietly end the engagement when the Lord showed up and told him "fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1:20, KJV)    Isn't it amazing?   Basically, Joseph is told, "just trust Me!"   And, he did!  

• Zechariah was doing his priestly work, offering incense on the prayer altar, when he was told that he was about to become a Daddy.   The only thing was that Elizabeth, his wife, had been unable to conceive and was now by all human accounts too old to have a child!    How did Zechariah respond?   "He was troubled and fear fell on him."  (Luke 1.12)   And what did God say?   You've figured it out by now, right?  Yes, you're right - "Fear not!" 

Mary did not know how it was going to work out, what God's announcement would mean for her life, but she trusted God anyway.  

Joseph did not have any explanation for a virgin's pregnancy, but he was willing to step over his lack of understanding and do what God wanted him to do as he trusted the Sovereign Lord.  

Zechariah took a while to come around, but he gained a deeper knowledge of the Person of the God he served, and came to trust Him completely.  

There are, as Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz says, “lions and tigers and bears, oh my!”  Life will have challenges!  The question for us, my Christian friend is direct:  Will we trust Him with all things?  
Will we argue for fuller explanations, demand that He make His plans, even for tomorrow, crystal clear? 

He says "Fear not!"  Let’s choose to live ‘faith-fully;’ not ‘fear-fully!’

 For those who choose faith over fear, there are these promises, words to live by:  

"God is able to make all grace abound to you,
so that in all things at all times,
having all that you need,
you will abound in every good work." (2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV)  
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you."
So we say with confidence,
"The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6, NIV)

_________________

Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and nature sing,
And heav'n and heav'n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! the Savior reigns;
Let men their songs employ.
While fields and floods,
Rocks, hills and plains,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove.
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Joy To The World

Watts, Isaac / Handel, George Frederick
© Public Domain