There Are Times When Fear Isn’t Such a Bad Thing

Do you like feeling afraid? If you do, congratulations – you’ve established yourself clearly in the minority. We live in a fear-filled world, and should we somehow fail to remember that, we can count on the mass media to give us a strong reminder. In fact, one prominent national news anchor declared, when he didn’t know he was being recorded, that the media’s primary role is to “scare the public to death.” (Actually, he said it more strongly than that.)

 

If someone were to ask what makes us fearful, many of us wouldn’t hesitate to respond: The cursed pandemic, which has disrupted everyday life more than we could have imagined and seems determined never to go away. But COVID-19 isn’t the only culprit in the fear factory.

Long before we had ever heard the words “coronavirus,” we had plenty of other reasons for feeling anxious about our health – cancer, heart disease, pneumonia, common flu and diabetes, to name just a few. We can fear not just for our own health, but also for our loved ones.

 

Then there are the ever-present financial fears: How can I get enough money for what I need? Do I have enough now? Will I have enough in the future? What if an unexpected calamity occurs – what then?

 

If those don’t suffice for keeping your emotions in fear mode, there’s always the future. As someone has keenly observed, “The future isn’t what it used to be.” With the craziness all around us in the world, we might worry about lies ahead for our children, or if you’re old enough, grandchildren. We might feel grave concern about the security of our jobs. Severe weather always seems looming around the corner. Then there’s another kind of fear – the unknowns of growing old and what issues that will bring.

 

So, if we enjoy feeling afraid, there’s no end to the fear-inducing options available. But if we don’t wish to remain in a constant state of high, fearful alert, the Bible offers numerous exhortations urging us to do the opposite. In Isaiah 41:10, God says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

Another passage, one of my favorites, admonishes, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).

 

However, there is one type of fear the Scriptures don’t discourage. In fact, they highly recommend it. It’s the fear of the Lord, although this isn’t the shaking in your boots, anxiously looking over your shoulder kind of fear. It’s a reverential awe for the all-powerful, all-knowing, ever-present God who created us and sustains us every day. 

 

This form of fear enables us to maintain proper perspectives and set right priorities. Here’s a sampling of biblical prescriptions for having a proper, holy fear of God:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Proverbs 9:10).

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

“The fear of the Lord lengthens one’s life, but the years of the wicked are cut short” (Proverbs 10:27).

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise” (Psalm 111:10).

“Blessed is the man who fears the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid” (Psalm 112:1,8).

“The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life” (Proverbs 14:27).

“The fear of the Lord will keep you from sinning” (Exodus 20:20).

 

When I read these passages and others like them, they don’t produce a sense of foreboding, that God is ready to pounce the moment I mess up. Rather, it’s a sense of confidence and security, a trust that as the title of the old TV series said, “Father Knows Best.” He's more than able to carry us through the fearful trials of life. And if we strive to heed what He says, life will be far better than anything we could experience on our own without Him.

 

If we truly fear God, as the Scriptures teach us to do, we can avoid succumbing to every other kind of fear that the world throws at us. 

All Are Created Equal – But Not Identical

There’s a lot being said these days about equality and “equity.” I used to think the latter term was referring to the amount of money my house would be worth if I sold it. That’s the thing about language; it’s dynamic and always taking on new meanings and uses.

 

When I think of equality, the words from the Declaration of Independence come to mind; “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among them are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”

Unfortunately, in my opinion, the term “equality” has been hijacked and given a sense very different from what our Founding Fathers intended. I believe the words “created equal” related to being afforded equal opportunity. For some, however, they understand those words now to mean equal outcomes – something very different.

 

Consider this: At a university, one student attends every class, completes every assignment, studies diligently for all of the quizzes, tests and exams, and earns an A-plus. Another student goes to class occasionally, when she doesn’t find any more appealing options. She only does some of the assignments – you need time for fun, right? Once in a while she crams for a test, but for the most part presumes she can get by with only a minimum of effort. As a result, she is awarded with a C-minus.

 

Both students had the same opportunity, but only one took full advantage of it. Would it be fair to give both students an A? Or what if the fruits of their labor – or lack of it – were averaged together and both were given a final grade of B? Would that be fair?

 

That, I believe, is the difference between equality and equity. Both being given equal opportunity, but neither being guaranteed an equal outcome. “Pursuit” of happiness does not promise achieving it.

 

Where does the whole notion of being “created equal” come from, anyway? Throughout human history there have been the haves and the have-nots: caste systems, such as exist to this day in some nations; feudalism, in which the nobility (lords) ruled over the peasants (serfs); slavery, in which one group – even of the same race and color – owns and controls members of another group. Something that exists to this day in some parts of the world.

 

Many students of history point out that the idea of equality, as it’s traditionally understood, was born out of Christianity and Judeo-Christian thought. For instance, the oft-quoted Psalm 139:14-16 declares, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well…. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”

 

This passage states we indeed were created by God, planned and formed in the womb, but also implies a uniqueness. That we created equally by the Lord, but not identical. In fact, Isaiah 64:8 says, “But now, Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are our potter, and all of us are the work of Your hand.” 

 

Just as a potter using clay doesn’t always create the same pot over and over, our heavenly Father molds and fashions us into unique, special creations for His divine purposes. That’s why some people have wonderful singing voices or resonant speaking voices; some are gifted artists or writers, while others are mechanically inclined; some are drawn to the field of medicine, while others are accountants, teachers, law enforcement officers, or entrepreneurs.

 

Growing up in New Jersey, I was a New York Yankees fan and used to daydream about becoming the next Mickey Mantle or Yogi Berra. The only problem was, I wasn’t fast or quick, not especially strong, couldn’t hit a baseball well, was only average in catching it, and was very lacking in other important athletic attributes. No matter how hard I might have tried, I never would have made it to center field or behind home plate at Yankee Stadium. It just wasn’t in God’s plan for me.

 

The challenge is trying to discover who we are – who God created us to be – and to learn to be the very best we can be at that. No sense in arguing, saying, “Why couldn’t that be me, Lord?” As the apostle Paul admonished in Romans 9:20-21, “But who are you, O man, to talk back to God? Shall what is formed say to him who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’ Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for noble purposes and some for common use?”

So, I see no point in begrudging the fact that I’m not rich like Bill Gates or Elon Musk, musically talented like Paul McCartney or a gifted actor like Denzel Washington. God created me to be me, to do those things He intended only for me, and to do the best at those that I possibly can. Just as He created you to be you. In the Lord’s sight, we’re equal to anyone else – but not identical. We’re the clay; He’s the potter. 

It Helps When We Know How Things Will End

With football season only a couple of weeks away, avid fans are anticipating the excitement, anxiety and uncertainty that starts with the opening kickoff and continues until the final seconds tick off the clock. The excitement comes from watching athletes competing against each other, seeing them perform at levels that average guys like me can’t even imagine doing. We marvel at their strength, speed and skill.

 

The anxiety and uncertainty, however, are caused by not knowing the final outcome of the games. Especially in rivalry games, or contests when the teams seem evenly matched, nails are chewed, feet paced, TVs yelled at, and things even get tossed in frustration. When the favorite team falls behind, we wonder, ‘How will they be able to catch up?’ Even when our team is in the lead, we fret over whether they can hold onto the winning margin.

Would our nerves be on edge and emotions so close to boiling over if we knew the outcome in advance? Of course not. If you’ve ever recorded a game to watch later and took a peek at the final score, viewing the replay didn’t make you as nervous. Right?

 

It's similar with watching a fast-paced movie thriller or reading a riveting murder mystery. The suspense keeps us on edge, even if we have a strong suspicion good will conquer evil at the end. But if we’ve read the “spoiler alert,” or if someone has already told us it was Mr. Mustard in the library with the candlestick who did it, we’re not as likely to hear Carly Simon’s “Anticipation” running through our minds.

 

These days there’s lots to feel anxious and uncertain about. Covid-19 has become the virus that refuses to go away, despite the vaccines, masks, social distancing and shutdowns we were told would deter it. “Inflation” has returned to our vocabularies, with prices for gas, groceries and just about everything going up. Many of us have decided watching the news isn’t good for our mental and emotional health, with the relentless gloom-and-doom, “the sky is falling” reporting. Living in constant fear and doubt aren’t good neighborhoods.

 

We find ourselves on edge, our tension levels high, because in life – as in sports and entertainment – we often don’t know how things are going to end. Wouldn’t it be nice to have some way to be able to turn to the last page and learn everything is going to work out?

 

Actually, there is a way. One many people choose not to use. It’s the Bible, which candidly and honestly records humanity’s faults and failings, but also presents God’s solutions – including a happy ending. In fact, Jesus Christ declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). 

 

He also asserted that by following Him, we can have confidence things will end very, very well. Jesus said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms…. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 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” (John 14:1-3).

 

Fear and uncertainty regarding the future have been a common companions throughout history. Writing to Christ followers in ancient Corinth, the apostle Paul gave this assurance: “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed – in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed…then the saying that is written will come true: ‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’… But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:51-56).

 

Because of this great, unwavering promise, we can embrace for ourselves the admonition Paul gave to his young protégé, Timothy, reminding him, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).

 

So whenever we find ourselves feeling fearful or anxious, for whatever reason, we need to remember God has already written the ending to this grand story. It will be glorious, more joyous than anything our finite minds can imagine. 

We read in the final book of the Bible, “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away’” (Revelation 21:1-4). 

Don’t you just love happy endings? 

Serving Isn’t Limited to Tennis Courts and Ping-Pong Tables

People who know me are very aware I’m a bit of a punster. (All right, more than just a bit.) For instance, I like to explain that Jesus Christ loved to play tennis (or badminton or ping-pong, if you prefer). Because He said, “I did not come to be served, but to serve,” and also told His listeners, “Watch out for My return.”

Yes, for the purists, that’s not what He meant. At least I don’t think so – context, context, context. But Jesus did talk quite a bit about serving, and indicated it should be important His followers as well.

 

The gospels tell about a selfish dispute Jesus’ disciples were having and the humbling example Jesus used to change their perspective: 

“They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, ‘What were you arguing about on the road?’ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, ‘Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.’ He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, ‘Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me’” (Mark 9:33-37).

 

In the Our Daily Bread devotional, Sheridan Voysey provided insight on the term, “welcome.” He wrote, “To ‘welcome’ someone in Jewish culture meant to serve them, the way a host welcomes a guest. Since children were to serve adults and not be served, the idea must’ve been shocking. Jesus’ point? True greatness resides in serving the smallest and lowliest.”

 

So in this passage, Jesus was being countercultural, bestowing honor on a child whom society viewed as a second-class citizen at best. He had a habit of doing that, saying and demonstrating things that caused his listeners to do a double-take, thinking, “Say what?”

 

Serving I must admit, isn’t an easy thing for me. It’s definitely not my default setting. Service is actually one of the spiritual gifts, and I don’t have it. People with the gift of serving jump up immediately whenever there’s a need. They don’t even need to be asked; they just recognize that something must be done – and they do it. I’m more inclined to rationalize why I don’t have to help. But just because we don’t have the “gift,” that doesn’t excuse us from serving when opportunities present themselves.

 

In another passage, Jesus observed, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves…. I am among you as one who serves” (Luke 22:25-27).

 

This admonition cut against the grain then, and it continues to do so today. People with power, position, wealth and fame typically expect – and receive – deference from people around them. We find this with celebrities, prominent public officials and civic leaders, top executives, big donors to charitable causes, even some pastors. 

 

At times, however, we marvel when people whom society says should be served take on the servant’s role, humbly and graciously tending to the needs of others without fanfare. When that happens, we can’t help but stop and take notice.

 

I’ve worked for both types of people – some who expected everyone to yield to their demands at all times, and others who consistently demonstrated genuine concern for others. Those were living out the exhortation from Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” 

 

Even if we haven’t received the spiritual gift of service, there are countless ways we can serve others. It might be volunteering to work in the church nursery; visiting sick people in the hospital or shut-ins in their homes; offering to drive someone to an appointment who doesn’t have transportation; doing simple chores for a neighbor unable to do them for herself; or even simply sending a handwritten note (rare these days) or making a phone call to let someone know they’re loved. A small gesture can make a big difference in one’s day. 

 

Of course, the greatest example of service was Jesus Christ, giving His life on the cross as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). We can’t imagine a selfless act of greater magnitude than this.

 

Jesus foreshadowed this when He told His disciples, as the horrific yet wonderful day drew near, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). His crucifixion wasn’t an accident; it was the ultimate reason He came.

Given this almost incomprehensible example of service, can we do any less? As Jesus said, ”If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me” (Luke 9:23). Taking up one’s cross – dying to self and setting aside personal interests – isn’t easy. But that’s what the Lord has called us to do. And when we do, in this “all about me” world in which we live, we can become countercultural, too. 

How You Start Doesn’t Matter If You Don’t Finish Well

The recently completed Summer Olympics filled me with very mixed emotions. I’ve always enjoyed the pageantry of the games, the thrill of victory converging with the agony of defeat, and the opportunity to exude patriotic pride by rooting for U.S. competitors. All the world coming together on a single stage, finely tuned athletes vying for their moments of fame.

 

But the heightened politicization of the games has become a turn-off. I’m like the person that doesn’t want different foods to touch on her plate. I like my sports to be solely about sports, untainted by political posturing and ideologies. The “east is east and west is west, and never the twain shall meet” perspective.

 

Nevertheless, I watched enough of the competition to reaffirm an underlying principle: It’s not about how you start, but how you finish. Whether in gymnastics, where a beautiful routine on the balance beam can be spoiled by a poor dismount; a runner who leads the pack early on but falters toward the end of a race; or a beach volleyball team that wins the opening set but loses momentum and drops a match – it’s all about finishing well.

One of the most thrilling events was a relay race in swimming. A team trailed going into the final leg, but then the star swimmer leaped into the pool, slowly gaining on the leader until he secured the victory in the final meters. It’s all about the finish.

 

For most of us, the closest we’ll ever get to the Summer or Winter Olympics is our couch or recliner, watching the competition in glorious, digital color on our TVs. But we’re all engaged in a race – the race of life. The marks we leave, our legacies, will be determined not by how well we started or how noble our intentions were, but how we finished. 

 

We can all think of people – family members, friends, or famous individuals – who failed to finish well. Celebrities, public officials, business executives, even Christian leaders who captured the admiration of many during their lives only to have their reputations sullied, even destroyed, by moral or ethical failures exposed after their deaths. 

 

How do we ensure a good finish to our lives? That’s a question that, with the passing of years, I ask again and again. I doubt anyone would want an epitaph to read, “Started well…but his (or her) finish? Not so good.”

 

We can turn to the world of sports for clues to finishing well. Because no athlete excels, especially at such a high level as the Olympics, without certain key qualities to propel their performance. Here are some of them, along with some biblical principles we all can apply for successfully finish life’s race:

 

Following the rules. Each sport has basic rules each athlete must follow. Failure to abide by them results in defeat or disqualification. “…if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules” (2 Timothy 2:5).

 

Persevering despite obstacles. Adversity is a fact of life; the key is to persevere and push through, no matter how great the challenge. “…one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).

 

Avoiding distractions. Top athletes can become tempted by many things that deter them from their mission. They must avoid anything that doesn’t help in achieving their goals. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1)

 

Maintaining a clear focus. Every athlete knows that to succeed requires intense concentration, developing a tunnel vision that focuses on the desired end result. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:2-3).

 

Refusing to quit. Giving up, no matter how near or far the finish line may be, guarantees failure. Tiredness, setbacks and discouragement happen, but they don’t justify quitting. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).

 

Remaining resolute. One reason for failure is forgetting the motivation for putting in all the hard work, the sacrifice and effort. “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Rejoicing in a strong finish.When determined athletes reach the finish line, whether they win or not, they can celebrate as long as they’ve given it their best. No regrets.“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

Do You Sometimes Feel ‘Tore Up From the Floor Up’?

Since I often listen to some powerful messages on Christian radio, from time to time certain terms or phrases stick in my mind. One example was the speaker – I think it was Dr. Tony Evans – who talked about feeling “tore up from the floor up.” ‘Yep,’ I thought, ‘I’ve known that feeling well.’

 

Maybe that’s a phrase you’re familiar with, but it struck a chord with me. I don’t recall the exact context of his comment, but we live in a broken world, and its cracks are showing more pronounced by the day. If you want to ruin your day practically before it starts, just turn on the news when you wake up. Between the latest Covid-19 scares, natural disasters, climate change declarations, grim economic reports, wars and rumors of wars, there’s enough to keep our anxiety levels maxed out.

 

Then we have our normal lives. Things can seem to be sailing along smoothly until some unexpected crisis jolts us out of our reverie and we’re plunged into uncertainty, maybe even despair. Health, finances, and relationships have a particularly annoying way of doing that. I think of a pastor in another state who’s been faithfully carrying out his calling, only to learn his teen-aged son is suffering from a devastating, potentially life-threatening disease.

 

So yes, it’s not unusual to feel “tore up from the floor up.”

 

How do we handle this? Do we just “deal with it” as best we can or “suck it up,” as they say in the sports world? Or do we scream and shout, snipping at every unsuspecting individual who has the misfortune of passing our way? Should we fall into a fetal position and wallow in self-pity?

 

One of the benefits of reading the Scriptures is they present us with an honest, unvarnished look at people, including a man described as having “a heart after God,” Israel’s King David. We’d think that being a king would be a fairly comfortable position, but he too understood very well the “tore up from the ground up” sensation.

 

Psalm 5, which he wrote, starts off with these words: “Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.” Sighing? Crying for help? This doesn’t sound like a man, despite his lofty position, who felt he had things all under control, does it?

 

Consider David’s words in the next two psalms: 

“O Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, Lord, for I am faint; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:1-3).

“O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me” (Psalm 7:1-2).

 

Reading these and other passages like it make me think, ‘Wow. And I think I have it bad!’ 

 

Thankfully, in his writings King David doesn’t leave us there, cowering in fear and desperation and panic. He always points to his source for hope, comfort, assurance and safety – the Lord, Jehovah God. At the end of Psalm 5, for example, he concludes:

“But let all who take refuge in [the Lord] be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous, your surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:11-12).

 

He makes similar declarations in the subsequent psalms: “The Lord has heard my cry for mercy; the Lord accepts my prayer” (Psalm 6:9), and “My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart…. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (Psalm 7:10,17).

 

What these and countless other passages in the Bible tell me is whenever I encounter those “tore up from the floor up” moments of my life, I need to take my eyes off the circumstances I can’t control and look instead to the God who is in control of the circumstances. 

 

‘Why is this happening?’ I might wonder, without ever knowing the answer. ‘What am I to do?’ I might frantically ask, and the Lord’s answer might be, “Nothing. Absolutely nothing. I’ve got this. You just watch.”

As a verse from another psalm assures me, “The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation” (Psalm 118:14). If I can remember that, no matter what is happening around me, our city, the nation or even around the world, I’m reminded there’s no reason to fear. God is still on His throne, and isn’t going to relinquish His sovereign role and control anytime soon. 

One of My Greatest Lessons in Race Relations

The summer after my freshman year in college, I had a job working on the night crew of a Shop-Rite supermarket. This was in the days before grocery stores were open 24/7. I and a half-dozen other guys, most of us college-aged, would clock in at 10 p.m. and perform a variety of assignments before leaving work at 7 the following morning.

 

Our night crew manager was a fellow named Joe. Instead of spending most of his time in the manager’s offices, as bosses on the day shift typically did, Joe would alternate working alongside each of us on the night crew. He’d help one guy in stocking the shelves and organizing his assigned aisle one night, and the next he’d work with me or one of the other guys. 

 

No matter what the job was – unloading new product off the trucks, “facing” the shelves to make them presentable to shoppers the next morning, even sweeping and mopping the floor – Joe would be right there, working with us instead of retreating to the office eating snack cakes and listening to the radio, as other managers preferred to do.

Did I mention that Joe was black? (The term, African-American, wasn’t commonly used back then.)

 

One evening Joe was working with me in my aisle, opening boxes of canned goods I’d brought on a cart from the back room, pricing and putting them on the shelves right along with me. Out of curiosity, I asked why he spent much of each evening working with us – mere grocery clerks – rather than giving us our orders for the night and then just relaxing, acting “managerial.”

 

Joe’s answer was profound. He replied, “I’m never going to ask anyone to do anything that I wouldn’t be willing to do.” I don’t recall asking for further explanation, but his actions demonstrated he wasn’t just offering a platitude. Joe meant what he said.

 

I’ve never forgotten that, and in fact have strived to live up to that philosophy myself, never regarding any job that needed to be done as one that was beneath me. But that brief exchange involved more than the expression of a work ethic. 

 

Joe indirectly was also teaching that we were equals. He didn’t treat anyone on the night crew as someone of lesser standing – and the subject of race never came up. We were fellow employees of Shop-Rite, and he saw his role as one of helping each of us to do the best job we possibly could. To my recollection, I never thought of Joe as “that black guy I work for.” To me, he was a role model, a man I greatly admired.

 

I wish I’d bothered to question him further about his willingness to do everything and anything he asked others to do – whether it was a perspective someone else had taught him, a spiritual conviction or something else. But in the Scriptures we find this principle of equality clearly expressed. Speaking of everyone who belongs to the body of Jesus Christ, Galatians 3:28 states, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

 

Over the years the Lord has brought a number of African-American men into my life whose friendship I have valued greatly. Forces in our society seem intent on dividing us, concentrating on external racial differences rather than the commonality we share as fellow strugglers in this epic drama called life. I’ve found that if we invest the time and energy to get to know one another, we’ll discover that skin color – the melanin or lack of it – isn’t nearly as significant as we’re led to believe.

 

We do have a tendency to judge by externals – how people dress, the kinds of cars they drive, the houses they live in, the job titles they hold, and the hues of their skin. But as followers of Christ, we’re called to disregard such differences. 

 

When the Lord was leading the prophet Samuel to identify a man to succeed Saul as king of the Israelites, He dismissed several sons of Jesse who would have passed the “look test.” Instead, God waited for David, a lowly shepherd boy, to arrive and become His anointed. “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height…. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7). 

The answers to racial tensions that have existed throughout human history and likely will continue into the future, ultimately are not found in government or legislation or a reinterpretation of history. It’s in putting in the necessary time and effort to truly get to know one another, learning to do as God does – not looking at the outward appearance, but looking at the heart. 

The Habit of Hiding the Right Words in Our Hearts

How good of a memory do you have? I’d venture to guess it’s a lot better than you think. For instance, you know your name, address and phone number, the names and birthdates of close family members and special friends, and probably several passwords. You know the directions to all of your favorite places, and can recite the days, times and channels of the TV shows you wouldn’t think of missing.

 

How about the lyrics to your favorite songs? Or lines from your favorite movies? If you’re a sports fanatic, you can probably recite lots of information about your favorite teams and recall details of memorable games and individual player performances. Maybe you can recite at least portions of historic documents like the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, or the Gettysburg Address.

 

We could suggest many other categories, but the point is simple: We have pretty good memories, as long as the things we’re remembering seem important enough to us. Which brings us to the topic I’d like to focus on: Scripture memory.

 

Scripture memory? I can almost hear some reading this responding, “Oh, I could never memorize Bible verses.” But in reality, you can – if it’s important enough to you. There’s no secret or magic to it. It’s just, as David wrote of the Scriptures available to him at the time, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your word. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You” (Psalm 119:9,11).

There was a time when I, too, would have insisted I couldn’t memorize passages from the Bible. But then I realized that I already had. Dating back to my elementary school days (back then we called it “grammar school”), I had learned a few of the Psalms, since we read them at the beginning of every school day, including psalms 1, 23 and 100. To this day, I can recite them – and it’s partly because of hearing them over and over before we started our classes.

 

Those days, of course, are sadly gone. In the supposed “wisdom” of the U.S. Supreme Court back in the 1960s, they determined the so-called “separation of church and state” – greatly misinterpreted, in my opinion – should prohibit prayer and Bible reading in public schools. It’s still done in many private schools today, but not in most public schools.

 

But I digress. At a marriage conference soon after I came to saving faith in Jesus Christ, the subject of Scripture memorization came up. It wasn’t a stern lecture or even a strongly persuasive presentation. The speakers that day simply pointed out that hiding God’s Word in our hearts is indeed a good idea, whether we’re striving to build a happy marriage, be effective parents, do well at our jobs, or just become good neighbors.

 

To help us, the husband-and-wife duo proposed our first memory verse, 1 Thessalonians 5:17, which says, “Pray without ceasing.” That’s it – three words. I thought, “I can handle that,” and it became the first of many verses and passages I’ve etched into memory over the years.

 

If you think memorizing three words, along with their “address,” is too difficult, what about the verse immediately preceding it: “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). Actually, one Bible translation reverses the word count. In it the same verses say, “Be joyful always; pray continually.” The next verse is a bit more complicated, but very doable: “in everything give thanks, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

 

The point is, why is it important – or meaningful – to stash such verses into our memory banks? I doubt if God will ask us one day, “And exactly how many verses did you memorize, My child?” But as David stated, it’s the way to “keep our way pure,” to learn how to consistently follow and live for the Lord everywhere and anywhere we go.

 

There’s much more I could say about my experiences with Scripture memory, but a key principle I learned is that the best way for securing them in our minds is to put them into use. For two years I participated in a small group discipleship study developed by The Navigators, and part of the commitment was memorizing specific verses and being able to recite them aloud. This might have seemed daunting to some, but being a goal-oriented person, I gladly accepted the challenge.

 

One week, however, the memory verse was lengthy. Even by breaking it down into sections, I was having trouble remembering it in its entirety. It was even printed on a small card so I could review it in my car – when I was stopped, of course. So one day I asked my assistant if I could review it with him, giving him the card to check my recitation. Saying the passage aloud, and sharing it with another person, was what I needed to cement it into my mind.

 

The verse was 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to ma;. and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.” 

 

That’s a mouthful, no question, but its message is also very important. How are we to respond when tempted, when sin tries to lure us in? This reminds us that we’re not unique in the temptations we face, and don’t have to submit to them if we turn to God and His power. And it’s helpful to have in our spiritual “filing cabinet” for easy access in times of need.

 

So do you memorize passages from the Bible? If you do, great. If not, you can – if you want to. If you’re not sure where to start, choose a simple one. How about John 10:35, “Jesus wept”? Easy enough for you? Or if you read a verse that seems to speak directly to you, or hear one during a sermon or radio message, try working on that one. Because it’s important to you. Who knows? The practice might be life-changing!

Finding Beauty in the Midst of the Ugliness

Every time I go to the beach, it’s like a spiritual experience: Observing the waves crashing on the shore. Enjoying a beautiful sunrise or sunset. Seeing footprints someone has left in the sand. Watching a sailboat harness the breeze to skim across the water. These all are wondrous sights, giving me a renewed appreciation for the wonders and variety of God’s creation. 

Probably my favorite is the sight of pelicans soaring in the wind, diving to catch a fish, or bobbing peacefully in the ebbs and flows of the ocean. Pelicans are a paradox of sorts, rather ugly birds up close, with long, slender beaks, beady eyes, and mouths that sag under the weight of a just inhaled meal. Not nearly as majestic as a bald eagle or captivating as a cardinal. And yet, when flying together, riding the air currents in perfect unison, they transform into visions of unquestionable grandeur.

 

I'd imagine these winged creatures experience a sense of joy and fulfillment as they soar in tandem, doing what they were uniquely designed to do. I’d never expect anyone to adopt the slogan, “pretty as a pelican.” But seeing these seabirds frolicking so effortlessly through the air, especially with a blazing sky at sunset as a backdrop, is exhilarating. 

This is kind of a metaphor for the Church. Not all of us are beautiful blue jays, proud peacocks or songbirds festooned in feathery splendor. Some of us are more like the peculiar pelican or comical penguins; a few among us bear a suspicious resemblance to vultures. But when we come together in unity and harmony, blending our distinctive talents, skills and gifts, we can become a wondrous spiritual body that powerfully reflects the divine traits of our Creator.

 

The psalmist writes, “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). While we typically ascribe this to humanity, I don’t see any reason for not applying this description to all of His works. Because in Romans 1:20 we’re told, “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

 

But getting back to the Church – the body of Christ – and the crazy, quirky folks that comprise it, even though individually many of us aren’t all that much to look at, when we merge to perform a spiritual symphony for the Lord, the melody that results is unforgettable.

 

We find the apostle Paul describing this, but using another metaphor – the human body: “The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts, and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ…. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I don’t need you!’ and the head cannot say to the feet, ‘I don’t need you!’ On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor…. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:12-27).

 

When the odd-looking pelicans align in formation as they catch the wind, they are doing so in silent praise to God. Working together in symmetry to fulfill His purpose and design for them. We can do the same when we too come together to convey – verbally and non-verbally – Jesus’ eternal, life-changing message of forgiveness, redemption and reconciliation. Psalm 133:1 declares, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!”

 

Unity seems to be a much-neglected quality in our society these days, and the spirit of disunity has trickled down into the Church. If only we could become more like pelicans, casting aside our differences and idiosyncrasies to form a vision of oneness for all the world to see.

 

As Paul wrote, “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 15:5-6).