Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

As for man, his days are like the grass. As the flower of the field, so he blossoms.

Psalm 103:15

I really like this verse. There are several ways of looking at it, depending on which other scriptures you line it up against. There is the place it resides within the psalm. There is the place it sits against some of Jesus teaching. And there is the place it sits on its own in symbology. There might be other ways of looking at it, but those are the three that I see.

Contextually, it clearly is speaking of the temporariness of humanity. Compared to Adonai, we are mere blips. Within the context of human civilization, we are short-term creatures. This is a statement of fact and also a warning. We can easily get caught up in our own magnificence. In our longevity. In our ability to rise to the top of the pyramid and hold our place there. But these are NOT great comparisons. This is NOT a good way to value our lives. One man of God tagged it to 2 Corinthians 10:12 “For we do not dare to classify or to compare ourselves with some who commend themselves, but they themselves, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, do not understand.” Very applicable. We need to avoid letting our pride puff us up our of proportion to the actual truth (Proverbs 16:18). Compared to the wicked/ungodly, Adonai is so vastly superior it can barely be grasped (Isaiah 55:8-9). Compared to the righteous/godly, Adonai is STILL VASTLY SUPERIOR to the point where we can KINDA grasp it (1 Corinthians 1:25; Job 42:2-6). It is a GREAT reminder of WHY we hold to Adonai’s point of view and renew our minds to HIS way of thinking (Romans 12:2). He is ABOVE ALL THINGS and simply the ONLY ONE who is correct about EVERYTHING. We are INCONSISTENT, but HE is ALWAYS consistent (Isaiah 40:8). He is THE ONLY foundation that we can live life on SECURELY.

Looking at the serve on its own and the symbols of grass and flowers, it is ALSO a really great verse. Grass seems to have been designed to spread. It gets everywhere. It’s really hard to keep out. And there is a resilience to grass that is almost unheard of in the rest of nature. Wild fires can come and decimate thousands of square kilometres, but once it passes GRASS is the first thing to start sprouting. It can stay smallish and scraggly (like crabgrass). It can rise tall and tough (like elephant grass). It is found ALMOST everywhere on the planet. This sounds a LOT like what WE are meant to do: multiply and have dominion (Genesis 1:26-28). However, unlike humanity – which is meant to steward and develop the earth – grass tends toward the fallen nature and tries to dominate everything. It’s only when we live according to the Word that we manage to be productive AND not dominating (1 Peter 1:23-25).

Then we get to flowers. Have you ever seen a field of wildflowers? There in a sea of green or yellow grass there are pockets of vibrant colour. They really stand out. Visible for kilometres and kilometres. And they lend a vibrancy of life to their surroundings. Insects are flying around, feeding, pollinating, and spreading seeds. One of my favourite roads to drive on is lined every summer with purple wildflowers (I think they are Western Mountain Aster). With just a SMALL bit of colour, they TRANSFORM the environment that they are in – and also can transform the MOOD of humans (because in their beauty our spirits recognise the handiwork and glory of Adonai – Romans 1:20). We also are meant to be spots of colour in the field of humanity. The spark that brings a spiritual recognition that there is something in us that they want. A VISIBLE difference. A VISIBLE witness that there is something more about living in Adonai’s Way. A show of LIFE in a sea of entropy. A light in their darkness (Matthew 5:14-16). This verse is both a reminder of what we are and of what we are supposed to be. If we AREN’T a spot of beauty, we are failing to trust in Jesus. If we aren’t a visible witness, we need to get back to doing things His way – Ruach HaKodesh is always speaking to us and telling us about the course corrections we need to make. If we listen – consistently – training ourselves to check in, we can spend more time ON the path than SEEKING the path from the weeds. Amen.

Finally, Jesus spoke to us about flowers and grass. “And why are you anxious about clothing? Observe the lilies of the field, how they grow: they do not toil or spin, but I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was dressed like one of these” (Matthew 6:28-29). Jesus is acknowledging the temporariness of humanity. He is also speaking of how glorious the natural world is in that it shows the glory of Adonai. If the natural world can do that, how much MORE should we who believe show His glory? “In the same way let your light shine before people, so that they can see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). “Therefore become imitators of God, as beloved children” (Ephesians 5:1). Jesus is the SOURCE of our blossoming (John 15:5). Adonai also uses grass as a symbol of REST – especially the rest we have in Jesus (John 14:27; Matthew 11:28; Hebrews 4:9). We see that in Psalm 23 and Psalm 23 fulfilled in John 6:10.

What does all this lead to? Great thanksgiving. Apart from Adonai, outside of our life in Jesus, we are withering grass and fading flowers. No matter how great we think we are, we’re nothing compared to Him. We’re temporary. But in Jesus, connected to HIM, we are SO MUCH MORE. We live His REST. We show HIS glory. We are clothed and taken care of and thrive. Storms and seasons may try to decimate us, but in the OVERCOMER we start growing again. We can’t be put down. He is MORE THAN ENOUGH to give us a harvest EVERY TIME. He made us seeds, and in Him, we CANNOT stop growing. We are IN HIM abundant life. Isn’t that worth a few hallelujahs?

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Matthew 12:8

“For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” Jesus is the LORD of the Sabbath. The HEAD of the Body. In HIM we have access to the Sabbath. Not a DAY or a weekly EVENT, but an entire way of being. Adonai RESTED after Creation because He had completed everything that needed completing. It was all ready. We were created and could LIVE in HIM. Then we rebelled. We threw it away. We decided to be LESS THAN. In Jesus, we have the opportunity to live in the Sabbath again. To LIVE abundantly IN HIM. We can’t do it outside of Him because only HE lived perfectly and was therefore perfected. We are resurrected into HIS life, not OURS. He IS the Way. But it was made available to us. So that we could have REST. No TOIL. We work in Him, rely on Him, look to Him, worship Him, thank Him, and learn from Him. In EVERYTHING we can give thanks because we can bring Him into EVERYTHING. He’s willing to come to where we are and make it like where He is. We can COOPERATE with that, and make pockets of Eden crop up in this world. As proof that He IS the Way, that He IS True, and He IS Life. So that everyone can see. And everyone has the opportunity to choose Him. No limits. No gatekeeping. Just JESUS right there, available for everyone. What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8