May 7
DebDay 54: Choose that
One of our affiliate networks sends out a prayer list that shows up in my inbox each morning.
Today's asked for prayer for a church that is starting drive-in worship this coming Sunday. The prayer request said, "Pray for ________ Church, that this drive-in church service will help the people to feel like something is progressing."
In other words, we need to do something, anything. I get it and I don't get it, all at the same time.
Church leaders and followers are perhaps responding differently to their fears. Leaders are leaning into ideas and planning. Something like, "We've got to think our way out of this. Let's come up with something!"
Leaders are tempted to combat fear with strategy.
The rest of the church population might instead be looking for diversion. Online streaming services have skyrocketed. Liquor sales are up. Even hardbound recipe books are flying off Amazon's shelves. Everything is flying off Amazon's shelves, for that matter.
Many of us are tempted to combat fear with escape.
In contrast to the above, Jesus said in John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid."
To a degree, all of us are looking for peace. Peace in circumstances around us; peace within us. By one definition, peace is the absence of fear. God gives us an idea of what real peace looks like in Revelation 21:3-4.
"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.'"
The base causes and responses to our human fears are addressed here. No, it doesn't necessarily include the words "Strategy" or "Escape," but you can read between the lines as well as I can. Our fears will finally be gone.
The present fears of never returning to life as we knew it, the fears for our economy, the fears church leaders have for their church's ongoing viability can be satisfied.
To find a peace that really satisfies, we have to choose our source, and run to it. Strategy and escape don't seem to work, as much as I continue to give each a whirl.
Jesus has promised us a different peace, and it doesn't look at all like the world's version. His peace doesn't come in the forms of strategy or escape.
The peace He gives is Himself. That surpasses anything I can conjure up myself. Choose that. And run to Him!
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
