218 Fear

¹Receive one who is weak in the faith, but not to disputes over doubtful things. ²For one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables. ³Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him…⁸For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. ⁹For to this end Christ died and rose and lived again, that He might be Lord of both the dead and the living. ¹⁰But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. ¹¹For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” ¹²So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. ¹³Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

¹⁴I know and am convinced by the Lord Jesus that there is nothing unclean of itself; but to him who considers anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. ¹⁵Yet if your brother is grieved because of your food, you are no longer walking in love. Do not destroy with your food the one for whom Christ died. ¹⁶Therefore do not let your good be spoken of as evil; ¹⁷for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. ¹⁸For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men. ¹⁹Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another…  ²²Do you have faith? Have it to yourself before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves. ²³But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin.

Romans 14

I was listening to a YouTube video this morning that referenced this passage of scripture.

While reading the Apostle Paul’s words, my mind replaced the references to food with “vaccine” and while I know that may be a stretch, it is how the chapter spoke to me.

My takeaways from reading in this particular way are:

• Let not him who (eats) “vaccinates” despise him who does not (eat) “vaccinates”, and let not him who does not (eat) “vaccinate” judge him who (eats) ‘vaccinates”; for God has received him.
• But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.
• For it is written: “As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way.

My opinion is and always has been that it is a matter of personal choice whether or not to receive the vaccine.

While I have been involved in some highly emotional discussions in the past in regard to the issue, I have chosen to avoid the subject altogether on social. My decision to do so stems from my own research and recognition that my personal choice may not be the prevailing opinion. In addition, instead of civil dialogue on issues, opposing parties in the matter have a tendency to resort to name-calling and disrespect. I do not wish to be a part of that scenario.

I am not afraid of the possible far-reaching ramifications of my decision on the vax issue,

Because I Have no Fear.

I have no fear for the future, because I know Who holds my future in His hands.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

Fear has a way of working its way into our minds and taking over our heart and soul. It it insidious and can make even the best circumstances seem horrible.

If we let it, fear can take over our minds to the extent that we cannot think of anything but that which we are afraid.

But when we allow fear and anxiety to take over, we are replacing God in His rightful place in our minds.

God shows us through the scriptures that a spirit of fear is not from Him.

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

II Timothy 1:7

Power, love, and a sound mind is from Him.

When we place God front and center in our hearts and minds, where He rightfully belongs, what do we have to fear?

“The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

Psalms 118:6

According to King David, we have nothing to fear.

I am grateful for scriptural guidance that defeats fear!

XO Lisa