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The Gift that Keeps on Giving
So, how much anxiety are you living with today? While the picture to the right is probably a more apt description of paranoia than anxiety, the feeling tones that it conjures up may be much the same.
Where anxiety differs from fear, is that while fear as an object - something specific that we are afraid of, anxiety generally has no particular object, yet it remains a powerful influencing force in our lives - and one that seeks resolution.
One of the typical ways to resolve anxiety is to convert it to fear - to find an object, an threat, an enemy - then (in harmony with the standard psychological reactive descriptions of "fight" or "flight") we can either attack or run (or work out some combination of both). Unfortunately, reactive mechanisms, while they have their place, are not always the best things to rely upon when it comes to building relationships or living out the life of the Kingdom.
Fortunately, Jesus offers us another way of addressing anxiety. Not by converting it to fear, but by dealing with it at it's source, and then inviting us to not only see the world the way God does, but to learn to be in the world the way God is. That's what Pastor Ken explores with us a bit in the sermon this week. If you would like to listen to the sermon once again, or maybe for the first time, you can access our sermon library by clicking here.
John 14:1-3 (NIV)
1 “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
Matthew 11 (Message)
28-30"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
Ephesians 2:8 (NIV)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.
Matthew 5 (NIV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 John 4:16-18 (NIV)
16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
The earth was dark through misapprehension of God. That the gloomy shadows might be lightened, that the world might be brought back to God, Satan’s deceptive power was to be broken. This could not be done by force. The exercise of force is contrary to the principles of God’s government; He desires only the service of love; and love cannot be commanded; it cannot be won by force or authority. Only by love is love awakened. To know God is to love Him; His character must be manifested in contrast to the character of Satan. This work only one Being in all the universe could do. Only He who knew the height and depth of the love of God could make it known. Upon the world’s dark night the Sun of Righteousness must rise, “with healing in His wings.” Desire of Ages, 22.
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