Week 21 Day 3
Finding God in the Mysteries of every day
larrymlawrence.com
Ezra 3:3 Despite their fear of the peoples around them, they built the altar on its foundation and sacrificed burnt offerings on it to the Lord, both the morning and evening sacrifices.
Overcoming fear, usually fear of rejection is perhaps the greatest problem facing most Christians. It should be noted in the text, the difference between the fear the Israelites were experiencing on their return from captivity. The Israelites had in hand a decree from Cyrus the king. The weight of authority was on their side.
Sadly, the weight of authority in the United States and around the world no longer supports or encourages true, orthodox Christian expression or presence in any way. The unfortunate consequence of this circumstance is the retreat of the evangelistic imperative on nearly every front. In the first and second centuries Christians were largely marginalized as is happening today. And in different areas of the Roman kingdom the movement was literally driven underground where several starved and died.
Today we have learned to become chameleon like in our lives in the world. No one would ever know we were Christians because we do not outwardly behave as Christians are directed to behave by our Lord Jesus. We do not witness, we do not love, we do not take risks, and we do not praise Him. We know that, or rather, we hope that, we are just passing through this world. But, I believe, that what we do here matters. Even in the smallest degree when we exalt the life and Lordship of Jesus Messiah we are making a difference.
Larry M Lawrence- Mysteries 