What Is My Responsibility Here?

 Sometimes when I just sit back and listen and observe the world objectively, I see and hear a commonality among people. Sure, there is anger, injustice, faith, love, hope, hate, and persecution among other things, but the one thing that always jumps out at me is plain old fear. Every day it seems a new fear is being presented, and it's being eaten up like candy. "Eat (fill in the blank) to cure this! NO! Don't eat (fill in the blank), you'll die!" "This (terrible thing) is going to happen! Be prepared to lose everything!" People are stockpiling,  worrying about everything, buying things they don't need to do things they don't need to do, in order to save themselves from some "thing" that isn't even happening. I often use the story of the Emperor's New Clothes to describe this type of hysteria. No one wants to expose the fact that these things are senseless or ridiculous, because the perceived "wisdom" of the day seems so highly vigilant or right. Usually because some so-called "responsible source" is spewing it to the masses. Hence, the non-existent "new clothes." This is nothing new under the sun. Sensationalism in media reporting has been used as a manipulation tactic time and time again. It's how they increase viewership, ratings, popularity, and acquire more of the almighty dollar. 

But what is our own personal responsibility here? Isn't it more than just being properly informed and armed with the right knowledge? It seems so to me, because that appears easy enough to do, but I think it goes deeper. I've really been sensing that the reason fear is so deeply rooted is because people just don't know who they are, what they should know, who they should trust, or where their security truly lies. They are looking for an outside leader, source, or some switch to pull to get us out of all of these world troubles, and the answer just isn't there. It makes them vulnerable to trusting people they don't know, because not only do they not know God personally, but they don't really trust themselves either. They either don't know or have lost touch with who they are created to be and even what and Who they are created to value.  

As the world continues to become more and more unstable, people can either choose to follow that instability, or they can choose to either search for or hold on to the stability in which they were formed. In other words, it's a choice to live the world's way or God's way. The question is, what side are we on? Yes, people can and are able to do great things here on earth, and there are people we enable and "trust" to make decisions for us, but we can't do anything apart from God. John 15:5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. So who does God say we are, even apart from him? 

Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations." God knew you before you were born, that's who. You and I were SET APART and APPOINTED as a PROPHET to the nations. We were not put here to be neener nannies, whimpering about like cats with their tails caught in a mouse trap, buying a truck full of lemons to stockpile in our basements. Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. Okay, that is a lot to unpack here, but I will start by saying, we are CHOSEN, HOLY, BLAMELESS, PREDESTINED, ADOPTED AS SONS. First of all, I did just all-caps you, but I'm not yelling. But take that in first, because that is nothing a fearful person would be wearing around their neck. I will not fear, because I was set apart, appointed as a prophet, chosen, predestined, adopted by the Lord Himself. Say that. Mean that, because THAT is the truth I want you to know and repeat 24 hours a day instead of whatever else you are believing today. Nothing else can touch you, harm you, take you down, or make you start buying into that dubious propaganda. Not when you trust God first and foremost. Psalm 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. God IS our REFUGE and our STRENGTH. John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. The WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. Take that in too. Again, not yelling, but that all caps button is kind of fun. 

Why don't we live as if we know and believe this? Write it into our souls and onto the scripts of our hearts, to be read, where it belongs. 2 Corinthians 3:3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Why do we look at the world and say, "well, isn't this just terrible? I guess this is how it ends." Why are we so willing to accept evil and so hesitant to trust in God? First of all, I don't know what part of the world you are in, but I know there are parts that are so much worse than mine. I know there are horrible things going on, and that it looks bad! John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." It looks bad because it IS bad here, but the world is out of touch with Christ, and that's why. But when we choose peace, trust, and gratitude, we choose His way, and not the world's unstable way. 

I choose gratitude every day for my life, my blessings, and my freedom, and I pray for the ones who don't have what we have here. Deuteronomy 8:10 When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws, and his decrees that I am giving you this day. I pray for all leaders of all countries. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. I pray for all impossible situations. Luke 18:27 Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." I pray for healing for all people. James 5:15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. 

In other words, I gather and claim what the Lord says for free. I don't buy into the world's unsettled version of what my future is. I'm on a need-to-know basis with the world, and a NEED basis with the One who actually holds my promised future in His hands. If we would spend as much time learning what God says as some of us spend watching the news and catching up on social media, we would be shocked at what we'd learn and comforted by the peace we'd discover. Imagine if those making all of those world decisions did the same? 1 Chronicles 16:11 Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.  I do know the world exists and it can be evil and rotten and I'm stuck in it, but that doesn't mean I have to succumb to the parts of it that stink just to survive it. I don't have to give in to fear and the insecurity it breeds.  Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. I know that Jesus died for our freedom. We are also not slaves to the world's every whim and desire. What we give our attention to also receives and creates our energy. I give my attention, my focus, and my power to the One who created me. 

Philippians 4: 6-7 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.