It’s Friday and Sunday’s Comin’!
| “Do not be afraid.” It’s the message of the angels… …to Joseph …to Mary …to the shepherds …to the wise men. Do not be afraid. So what happens when we feel weighted down with fear? Fear of walking past the wrong person in the grocery store who might have Covid. Fear of leaving one’s house because no place feels safe. Fear of a long, difficult winter. Fear of what my neighbors might say to me if we disagree. Fear of conflict. Fear of failure. Fear of change. Fear. Do Not Be Afraid. There’s no shame in fear. Fear is part of life. But fear is to be overcome. And love overcomes fear. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son …. so that we would not perish. To know the love that casts out fear and restores us to joy in the Lord. So then, with endurance, let’s run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. Let’s throw off any extra baggage, get rid of the sin that trips us up, and fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. He endured the cross, ignoring the shame, for the sake of the joy that was laid out in front of him, and sat down at the right side of God’s throne. ~Hebrews 12:1-3 (CEB) Blessings, Pastor Mary |
