Fear No Fear

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

“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt becomes tasteless, by what will it be made salty? It is good for nothing any longer except to be thrown outside and trampled under foot by people. You are the light of the world. A city located on top of a hill cannot be hidden, nor do they light a lamp and place it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it shines on all those in the house. 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 5:13-16)

Chapter five is the beginning of the constitution of the Kingdom, the Sermon on the Mount. It is a full three chapter long, ending in chapter seven. In five, Jesus talks about how the BLESSING works and who it is for. He discusses our role as examples to the world. He talks about how if we truly follow Him, we find our love of Him and our love for others will find us fulfilling the Law. That Jesus fulfills the sacrificial part and we fulfill the moral part. He teaches that anger is murder from our hearts. That we were meant to covenant with each other male to female, one partner only, period. He teaches about divorce and how it hurts God’s heart. About how it is better to be truthful and honest instead of always appealing to other things through oath-making. He teaches that revenge is wrong, that it is an evil intent that hurts us as much if not more than those we touch with it. Jesus teaches instead that love is a decision that we make, a respect we give to others because they are God’s creation, not for their actions. Jesus speaks of how God shows His goodness to ALL people, good and evil, hoping they will respond to His call and that WE are called to love the SAME WAY so that His goodness can shine out of us – maybe helping them choose to answer His call.

Chapter six is where Jesus talks about doing charity for charity’s sake, not for being seen to do good things. Our rewards come from the Father, not from our fellow people. Jesus encouraged us not to pray by blathering endless words at God, but to pray like He prayed: acknowledgement of dependence on God, praise to God for BEING God, humble submission, requests aligned with His Word (which is His will), thanks for sustenance and strength, acknowledgement that everything is God’s and God is above all things. Jesus teaches about fasting and how it is not a public show (much like charity), but a private way to deepen relationship with God. Jesus touches on material goods and how riches are a TOOL, not TREASURE – only the things of God are worth anything (human wealth and money is arbitrary, after all). Jesus teaches on the importance of having clear eyes. If we keep our eyes on God and let His standards become our standards, there will be nothing to ‘clog’ our sight, which will fill our entire lives (body, soul, and spirit) with His light. Jesus points out that what we place as our Source is what rules our bodies. We can’t pick human systems AND God. We have to decide who we will serve. Which leads into who we can rely on for our Source. If we are relying on God as our Father, we can TRUST Him. We can RELY on Him. We don’t need to be asking about our needs because we KNOW He will fulfill them. If we will only seek Him and acknowledge Him as our Source (not our jobs, spouses, children, friends, family, or support programs) we can have true confidence that we WILL be taken care of in ALL ways. This decision to trust and rely on Him is what kills anxiety.

Summary

Key Players: God, Jesus

Key Verse(s): Matthew 5:2-16; 6:31-34