Fear or Compulsion

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 [ESV])

What controls you? Fear? Greed? Envy? Stature? Christ? We live in a time of fear for illness and death because of a worldwide pandemic from a coronavirus. This fear causes people to be greedy and buy more supplies than needed from grocery and drug stores. It causes people to say and do hurtful things to other people. This fear is causing some people not to have the staples of life in their homes and they are hungry, do not have medicine, and don’t even have simple things like toilet tissue. Fear is causing people to be inhuman to others. They care about no one except themselves. Fear is controlling their thoughts, words, and actions.

Paul spoke about being controlled by something/Someone. He wrote about this in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 Why be controlled by something that causes you and other people grief and pain? The word “controlled” Paul used in these verses comes from the Greek word meaning to be compelled. Being compelled means being controlled by something or someone. What compels you? Striving after your own goals no matter the cost? Striving to beat death, fear, or poverty? Paul said he was controlled/compelled by Christ. Christ died for each person so none would live only with thoughts for him/herself (earthly, flawed emotions and intentions), but for Him, the eternal, sinless One who loves all people and desires they be saved from their sins.

In the first part of 2 Corinthians 5, Paul wrote about his desire to be with God in His kingdom. He compared this to being clothed by His Holy Spirit. God gives His children, Christians, His Spirit to live within and change them into being more like Christ. Since His children have His Spirit living in them, they long more and more to be with God and to do what He desires. God’s great desire is that all people come to a saving relationship with Him. Because of God’s love for him, Paul felt compelled by love for God to tell and show other people about His love. Paul said his aim was to please the Lord. His love for God compelled him to please Him by his obedience to Him to tell everyone in the world about Jesus. Since Paul’s chief aim was to please God, no other purpose took precedence. Things that could have taken precedence would have been fear for his life, security of home and food, stature among other Jews and Jewish leaders, and bodily health. Paul stated definitively what controlled him was the love of Christ (vs 14).

Understanding this from Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, what controls/compels you? Do you want to be controlled by earthly, flawed emotions and intentions? Or would you rather be controlled and compelled by the sinless, eternal One, Jesus Christ? Jesus’ love for each person compelled Him to die the death each of us should receive as judgment for our sins. Jesus allowed His love for us to compel Him to die for us.

In this time of a worldwide health pandemic, what compels and controls you? Your fear of death and not having necessities? Instead, allow the love of Christ who died for you to compel and control you. Allow God’s love to control you so you help other people, are not panicked, and buy only what you need. Seek to serve others, especially those who cannot take care of themselves well during this time such as older adults, homeless people, people with immune deficiencies, people who are chronically ill, and neighbors on your street. Think of these people first, then you will be like Jesus who humbled Himself by taking the form of a servant (Philippians 2:7).

Are you afraid? Are you worried? Now is the time to pray and to talk to other Christians. Seek the peace of God that surpasses all understanding so your hearts and minds will be guarded by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7). Have the peace that Christ left with His disciples, not the peace the world tries to give, but His perfect peace so that your heart is not troubled or afraid (John 14:27). Put into practice what Christ has put into you and what He practiced, and God’s peace will be with you (Philippians 4:9).

If you are not a Christian and want to have this eternal peace that comes from God, talk to a minister or a Christian. Pray to God asking Him to give you His peace and to help you understand His saving love. Believe Jesus is the Son of God, confess your sins, and accept Him as your Savior from sin and death, then God’s perfect peace will be in you. Have the peace Isaiah spoke about in Isaiah 26:3, “You (God) will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You!” (NLT)

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7 [ESV])

Lord, please forgive me for getting panicked about my life during this pandemic. Please give me Your peace. Use me for Your purposes during this time so other people receive help and know You love them. Keep me safe in Your faithful hands as I give myself to You and show my love to You by obeying Your compulsion to serve others. Help me keep my mind centered on You and not the trials surrounding me in the world today. Thank you, Lord, for Your love and faithfulness. Amen.

Foxes, Birds, and Peace

“Jesus said to him, ‘The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.’” Matthew 8:20 [NASB]

Most of us have heard of and/or read Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5-7. In Matthew 6, Jesus taught about the cure for anxiety concerning what a person will wear, and what he will eat and drink. He taught the Father knows what each person needs and just like He clothes, feeds, and provides drink for birds and flowers, you, who are His greatest creation, will have all your needs met. Instead of having anxiety about these things, Jesus said, “Seek first His (God’s) kingdom and His (God’s) righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)

Once we get our minds to understand, believe, and rely on this statement so we do not worry about our daily needs and instead grow in our relationship with God through Christ, we come to the point where we realize Jesus taught a furtherance of this lesson. In Matthew 8, a Jewish scribe approached Him after Jesus healed a leper and Peter’s mother-in-law. This scribe told Jesus he would follow Him wherever He went. Jesus’ remark takes us back to what He said in Matthew 6:33, but it tells us more. It teaches us more. Jesus told the scribe, though foxes and birds have places to lay their heads and call home, the Son of Man does not. (Matthew 8:20)

We may think after reading this statement by Jesus to the scribe, “Okay, yeah, sure, I understand. Jesus just told us God would provide all our needs so here Jesus is telling him not to worry about it.” His statement is more than that. Before, Jesus said not to worry because God will provide, so instead of worrying, seek God, His kingdom, and His righteousness. With this statement from Matthew 8:20, Jesus meant He Himself does Matthew 6:33 already, but there is more. He trusted God to provide all His needs and He was in a close and personal relationship with the Father, having His righteousness and His kingdom. What Matthew 8:20 then meant for Jesus is He was okay that He did not have a place to lay His head. He trusted the Father enough that even if He didn’t have a place to lay His head, it was okay. Jesus’ emotions at not having a place to lay His head was not panic and worry, but instead contentment and peace. He did not have a place to call home or even know where He would sleep that night.

Jesus did not ask the Father for a place to lay His head. His relationship with the Father went beyond material things and needs. Jesus’ relationship with the Father went beyond His emotions to His spiritual relationship and reliance and trust in the Father and His will. His focus was on the Father and the purpose for His life on earth.  Did you catch that? Jesus knew the Father would take care of all His needs and those of His followers. He also trusted that even if He didn’t have a place to lay His head, it was okay. It was all part of God’s will and plan. Jesus trusted the Father with His whole being. He taught His followers they could trust God completely, too. That explains why we can love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength…because we trust Him to take care of all these areas of our lives. We can have peace and contentment knowing God will take care of us whether we have a place to lay our head tonight, a chicken or only rice on the table, or know if we will wake to see the sun tomorrow. God’s plan is the best plan. His will and His kingdom bring peace and well-being.

What are the questions for us today?

•  Have we come to the point where we do not fret about our corporeal needs like food, drink, clothes, and a roof over our heads? 
• Are our needs for God’s contentment and peace more important to us than our need to know His plans for our days and nights?
•  Are we in such a close relationship with God that our physical earthly needs are secondary to the priority of seeking and being with God, seeking His kingdom (His will) and doing His will? Everything else pales in comparison to our relationship with God and His will on earth.

What gets in your way of seeking God and His kingdom?

Lord, I get so busy trying to make sure I have enough money to pay for food, rent, car loan, kids school fees, and other things that I let those cares take priority in my mind and heart over You. Please forgive me for placing things over You. Lord, help me always to seek You and Your will. In the rush of my day, remind me to look up to You. In the quiet of my night, call my spirit to return to You. In the fear of uncertainty, whisper, “Come to Me.” Lord, I am a willful person who is trying to do what’s best, but sometimes I forget You and your will are the absolute best. Help me to remember and to desire You with my whole being. Give me Your perfect peace that comes from an active trusting reliance in You. I love You, Lord. Thank you for calling to me every day. Amen.