Fret Not (Part 4)
LOOKING AHEAD

Part one of this Fret Not blog series, featuring messages based on Psalm 37 (ESV), concluded that Christians should refrain from unrighteous anger when the campaigns of the ungodly prosper. Part two showed how such fretting leads to general neglect in demonstrating love towards those who reject and oppose the righteous. The third part of the series reflected on how the Holy Spirit empowers those who exhibit Biblical meekness while, in the eyes of the world, such an attribute is considered weakness.  

Fret Not (Part 3)
Blessed are the Meek

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
Matthew 5:5 ESV

Many mistake meekness for weakness, believing that the meek are subservient and ever yielding to the antagonist. This world esteems those who rise to fight back, crush injustice and avenge wrong. The cultural hero figure it readily embraces is the Steve Rogers type (the protagonist from the Captain America movies) who transforms into the ultimate superhero to defeat evil in the world.

Fret Not (Part 2)
What's Love Got to Do With It?

"Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!
Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil."
Psalm 37:8 ESV

In my previous blog, we learned that the meaning of "fret not yourself" is "do not get heated." In the face of injustice and evil, we are to refrain from agitation, anger and irritation because these reactions produce bad fruit. The question then becomes, how can we respond in a fashion that yields good fruit? The Lord revealed to me the answer to this question in a foreign airport while returning from an overseas trip.

 Fret Not – Avoiding Bad Fruit

In Psalm 37, the phrase, "fret not yourself," appears three times. While encouraging God's people not to fret, this passage of Scripture also provides reasons why we are prone to do so:

1. "Because of evildoers" (v. 1).
2. Because of "the one who prospers in his way," in reference to the one "who carries out evil" (v. 7).

Therefore, we should not give in to fret for "it tends only to evil"(v. 8).

Serving Through a Lockdown

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without
wavering, for He who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 ESV

While I cannot recall the many sermons I have heard in detail, I can remember several hymns. Awe-inspiring lyrics with majestic melodies find me like a long-lost friend appearing just when needed most. Recently, John Rippon's hymn, How Firm a Foundation, flooded my soul as I reflected on the events of the past year.

Arise, Shine!

If you could insert yourself into a Bible story, which one would it be? If I were to choose, the following Bible scene would be high on my list:

"And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, 'Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!'" (Luke 2:8-14 ESV).