Dear Friends in Jesus –
We are wired for fear. This was an evolutionary advantage, that is, to detect threat, real or imaginary. Think about it: there is little lost when you get afraid of a perceived threat that turns out to be harmless, while the consequences of missing an actual threat are disastrous. So while jumping out of your skin because you thought that stick on the ground was a poisonous snake may be embarrassing, missing the snake altogether, or assuming it poses no threat, can be deadly.
So fear clearly played an important role in the evolution of our species. But is it of value today? And even if it is – that is, there are still things worth being afraid of – how do we mitigate its devastating affects. How, that is, do we avoid being driven by fear… in terms of opportunities we don’t take, money we spend on security devices, the amount of our national budget that goes to defense, and beyond? I think this is a particularly important question for Christians, as one of the core messages throughout Scripture is, “Do not be afraid.” (Usually offered in a moment when there’s warrant that we are!)
In our text this Sunday, two men born blind are intentional. They are fearless. They seek relief from the source that is able, Jesus.
Take a few minutes this holiday weekend to join others positioned for grace, strength and healing –
See you in worship!
