Be Obstinate!

I was watching a news talk program while I was preparing dinner one night over this last weekend, where they showing a video made by a member of the United States Congress.  In the clip that had been posted to social media, the individual was giving a rather convincing dramatic presentation of an event that she said had happened to her during the recent unrest at the Capital in Washington.  I have to admit that I was captivated by her display of passion, expression and vivid sound effects and thought that she would definitely be a good candidate for the children’s story telling hour at the local library.

The only problem with her show was… well, it seems that it was just that… a show!  Her story was quickly debunked by other credible witnesses that were in offices right next to hers… and it was not even close to the building that was the center of attention that day.

As I watched her video, the light suddenly went on in me, and I realized that the real purpose of the video, no matter if the content was true or not, was to instill a sense of FEAR in those who followed her on social media.  It dawned on me that in this world, we are constantly being conditioned to be afraid. To get us to the point where we unintentionally let fear guide our every thought, plan, decision and course of action.

I had never seen this point of fact as clearly and as close to home as when Piper and I were faced with barrage after barrage of fearful remarks, accusations and suggestions when people close to us disagreed with the decisions we were making for her care in the early days of our journey with Alzheimer’s.

As you probably know, my favorite scripture in regard to this all-important subject is found in 2 Timothy 1:7.  Recently, I found a different translation that adds another side to its truth.  James Murdock in his classic translation of the Aramaic Peshitta New Testament declares, “For God hath not given us a spirit of fear, but of energy, and of love, and of instruction.” 

I particularly like the implied connection between a lack of energy and fear!  In fact, I have first-hand experience in that regard!  I realized early on that the people operating in fear around us, were quick to make up a multitude of excuses as to why they couldn’t become involved in our need.  And many times, those excuses, among other things, were directly connected to a lack of energy.

Over the years, Piper and I learned that our greatest defense to the fear that swelled around us was firstly to stay infused with the truth of God’s Word and secondly, to be obstinate!  Joshua 1:9 reminds us of the words from the Lord spoken to the Israelites as they faced some of the greatest threats to their very existence.  They are words of encouragement and truth that are as vibrant and sound today for us, as they were for the Jewish nation a few thousand years ago when it was declared,

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (KJV) 

One of the Hebrew meanings to the command to “be strong” is “to be obstinate.”  The Oxford Online Dictionaries define this characteristic as “to strenuously refuse to change one’s opinion or chosen course of action, despite attempts to persuade one to do so.”

In today’s world, we Christians have no other course of action but to stay strong, to keep a good courage and to be obstinate in following the truth of God’s Word, as fear seems to be going before us, following behind, be in the air over our heads and on the ground we walk on!

So, what do you think?  Do you feel like being OBSTINATE with me today? 

Good!  Let’s do it!

Have a great week.  Stay warm… we are in the midst of freezing drizzle and rain today, and the rest of the week isn’t supposed to get much better!  But I am not afraid for I know… as I expect you do too… That God and His Word in us will always prevail… and that His best is yet to come!