March 28: Of Family, Obedience, Proximity and Peace

Deuteronomy 9:1-10:22

Luke 8:4-21

Psalm 69:19-36

Proverbs 12:2-3

What a wonderful, timely reading for a time when, presumably, there are many who, like Jesus's mother and brothers, are seeking to get near to Him through a crowd.  When the crowd suggests their relationship with Him deserves the privilege of proximity, Jesus does not disagree - but He points out that the privilege isn't just for those related to Him by blood, but by spirit: "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."  His words reinforce what Moses said to the Israelites: "…what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to Him, to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to observe the Lord's commands and decrees…".

Let's think about that word "fear" for a moment.  Our pastor finally explained it to me, after almost 45 years of misunderstanding it, that the word doesn't mean God calls us to be "afraid", but to a combination of knowledge, reverence and awe, of the God to whom "belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth, and everything in it", Who "chose you…above all nations - as it is today".  Especially in times like today, who wouldn't want to get close to Him?

So if we want to be close to Jesus, He asks us to obey His father.  And what does He command?  That we take that light, that truth - that knowledge, reverence and awe of Him - and not hide it from other people.  We are to live lives that reflect that "fear" of the Lord to those around us.  

And how do we do that?  There are an infinite number of ways but God reminded me of something our pastor preached that might be applicable: the phrase "But God".  Until our pastor preached about this phrase, I never noticed it; now I am beginning to realize how powerful a phrase of two one-syllable words is, and how often God has intervened in situations, from Noah (Gen 8:1), to protecting Jacob from Laban (Gen 31:23-24)  to Jonah (Jon 2:6).  Perhaps the most important one for us today, in Matthew 19:26 - "With man this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible."

So maybe we can let other people see our light a bit today, especially when we are attacked by fear and worry.  Instead of saying to ourselves "I trust God, but this problem…" perhaps we might reverse the order?  Some examples:

• I am out of work, but God…
• I don't know where to buy toilet paper, but God…
• My daughter is far away from home, but God…
• I have a fever and a cough, but God…

And in what may be the most difficult applications:

• a family member has succumbed to the virus, but God…
• I am going to succumb to the virus, but God…

Not easy.  Certainly it wouldn't be for me, were I to find myself there.  But if I am able to live this way, if we are able to live this way, then perhaps other people - especially those near and dear to us - might see that "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard [our] hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  And they might want to have some of that proximity as well.