(Begin with 1-2 minutes of silence)
Matthew 6:25 That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing?
If somebody asked you what commandment Jesus said most often, what would you say? Some may say, “Love your neighbor,” or “Love one another.” But this wasn’t the commandment Jesus said most often. Others may guess something like, “Do not sin,” but this wasn’t at the top of Jesus’ list either. (In fact, this may be one of the least spoken commandments throughout Jesus’ ministry.)
You may be surprised to know that the one commandment Jesus said most often is, “Be not afraid,” or “Do not worry.” There are likely a number of reasons for this. One reason is that, at best, fear leads to discontentment and a lack of peace.
Another reason is that, at its worst, fear leads to evil thoughts or actions. As 1 John 4:18 says, there is no fear in love. The principle here is this: The opposite of love may not be hate. Instead, the opposite of love may very well be fear.
READING & PRAYERS:
MATTHEW 6:25-34, 1 JOHN 4:16-18
QUESTION: Why do you think Jesus felt the need to teach, “Be not afraid,” or “Do not worry,” as regularly as He did?
QUESTION: In what areas of your life do you need to hear those words today? Be specific.
Take a Step: Remember to continue utilizing the One Minute Pause app throughout the week. If possible, begin to explore and practice the 3, 5 or 10 minute pause to more deeply root yourself in Christ.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I recognize that our culture often communicates a definition of fear that may be different from the Scriptures. To us, fear may lead to hiding in a closet or being scared during a movie. To You, simply worrying too much about what we will eat or wear is to be afraid. This indicates there may be a lot of other things that bring fear into my life I may not be aware of. Today, help me to become keenly aware of any unconscious fears I may have. Bring them into the light and root them out so I can experience real peace and contentment. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
(End with 1-2 minutes of silence)
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