When you're feeling insecure, what do you do? Some of us talk, endlessly, as though our words were a protective shield. Some of us withdraw. Some of us act out, being a clown or showing off. Some of us work ourselves into an angry state and the resulting flow of adrenaline causes us to feel empowered. But few of us choose the best course of action - quiet evaluation, listening to learn.
Jesus took Peter, James, and John with Him to a divine appointment. On the top of the mountain, as they watched, He began to radiate a divine light - his clothing becoming dazzling white! It's true! Matthew, Mark, and Luke record this moment. Then, Moses, the great Law-giver and and Elijah, the Miracle Worker, appear and begin to converse with Jesus. At that moment of incredible wonder, what does good ole' Peter do? Yep, in his insecurity he does what he always does, impulse takes over and he starts to babble. "Let us build three shelters (alternate translation, memorials) here for you guys!" God responds to Peter this way - While he was going on like this, babbling, a light-radiant cloud enveloped them, and sounding from deep in the cloud a voice: “This is my Son, marked by my love, focus of my delight. Listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5, The Message)
Just a few days before that event, Peter had been rebuked for speaking without listening by Jesus, too. When the Lord was trying to explain that He must die for the sins of the world, Peter objected and Jesus' response was quick and harsh - "You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, and not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:23, NLT) How that must have stung! It wasn't until after he was filled with the Spirit that Peter learned to listen, really listen. Then, God took his boldness and made it a gift of leadership that He used to guide the Church through her first two decades of existence.
There is much in our world to cause us to feel insecure, isn't there? It isn't just the headlines from world news that makes me afraid. Aging scares me. Will my body betray me with a stroke, a heart attack, or Alzheimer's? The tenuous nature of human relationships frightens me, too. Will a trusted friend turn against me, breaking my heart? Knowing that every Sunday for the next 20-25 years I am required by my vocation as a Pastor to stand up and speak to a congregation with a word from God makes me feel insecure, too! What do you fear? What keeps you awake into the night? If we live in our fears, we will either become paralyzed or we will end up doing dumb, self-defeating things.
God has a better way. His advice for fearful, insecure people is this - "Listen! Let me lead."
We must stop trying to control every event. We have to refrain from trying to secure ourselves against every threat. And we need to do what Job did when he sensed God's Presence - put our hand over our mouth to staunch the flow of words so we will stop babbling out meaningless prayers that only reinforce our fears. Instead, we focus on Jesus! We listen to Him. The Bible teaches us to "Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" (Hebrews 12:2-3, The Message)
Steady on, friend. That's the way. Listening, really listening, we gain the wisdom of God and face the future secure in the knowledge that the One who knows us best, loves us most, and that He is leading us all the way home.
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You're invited to a worship time on Christmas Eve at the Assembly.
At 7 pm, we will be gathering to sing, to listen, to worship, to wonder. I hope you will join us.
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