Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Tuesday March 8, 2011

The rap on preachers is that we preach overly much on whatever sin we have the most problem with. I suppose that would brand me as a man of fear, for I find that I use many sermons, letters etc emphasizing how God helps me/us in fearful times.

The daily media will emphasize the more popular scandalous news concerning clergypersons, but giving in to fear will cripple a person's life and ministry as sure as immorality or any juicy tid bit you can conjure up. God warned Joshua against dismay, which is to be in the grip of fear that paralyzes. Christ warned against fear in the account of the wicked servant who was incapacitated by fear of future events.

The Lord sets a number of events, things and even people in motion in our life to strengthen us against becoming breathing but lifeless Creatures of The Rut. A few months ago I sent a note to a young man suffering with terminal cancer. He walked on last week and did so with a vibrant testimony of Christ's work in his life. I had enclosed a quote to him in the hope that it would increase his phenomenal courage even more. The quote is from a celebrity you would not associate with pain, but a deeper look will prove she has suffered enormously. Mary Tyler Moore wrote:

"Pain nurses courage, you can't be brave if you've only had good things happen to you."

Much fear is rooted in fear of pain, loss or death. The life of Christ is a text book on overcoming these fears in their different costumes. Christ suffered, Christ did not lose, but willing walked away from the outer trappings of glory and took upon Himself the form, the image of a servant, and His life was not taken, according to His testimony He laid it down for sinners, that they/we might be lifted to a higher place.

Commenting on fear, Dr. John Maxwell wrote:

"Courage teaches us what should be feared and what ought not to be feared. Only by taking action do we gain that knowledge. And from that knowledge comes an inner strength that inspires us to persevere in the face of great adversity — and inspires others to follow. In the most difficult of times, courage is what makes someone a leader."

It is not a shame to be afraid or to admit fear. A man after God's own heart admitted that he was acquainted with fear and he shares the antidote. When David was living as a captive of the Philistines and it seemed the entire world was against him, he wrote in Psalm 56:3

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

A reading of Psalm 56 in its entirety will give a deeper appreciation of David.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2011 Use with Credit

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