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).

ABANDONED BUT NOT FORGOTTEN

"So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone,
and especially to those who are of the household of faith."
Galatians 6:10 ESV

I first heard about "Mary" and her brother Daniel in 2008 from Pastor Abraham, a VOMC ministry partner in Northern Ghana. "Mary," Daniel, and their parents accepted Jesus as Lord after attending a Jesus Film showing near their home. It didn’t take long for them to find that following Jesus came at a cost. But it was when "Mary" and Daniel’s parents died (they were poisoned by family members) that these children felt the weight of persecution. Because of their Christian faith, they were abandoned and denied support from their community.

"The light of the eyes rejoices the heart,
and good news refreshes the bones."
~ Proverbs 15:30 ESV

In times of hardship, it is natural to focus on the negative. Time to time, and from one degree to another, everyone battles hopelessness weighted by dread. As the conditions and perspectives will differ in each person's life, it is essential never to make light of anyone's distress. We are all unique and, therefore, how deeply such feelings occur dramatically affects one's disposition.