WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
There is a fear that we don’t talk about enough, and it’s the fear of people seeing the real me.
Fear is what protects us from danger, and it also humbles us and reminds us that we’re not always in control.
MATTHEW 17:1-9 NLT [1] Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. [2] As the men watched, Jesus' appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. [3] Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus. [4] Peter exclaimed, "Lord, it's wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I'll make three shelters as memorials-one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah." [5] But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him." [6] The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground. [7] Then Jesus came over and touched them. "Get up," he said. "Don't be afraid." [8] And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus. [9] As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Don't tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead."
We have some pretty extraordinary things happening here in the Gospel. Jesus takes James, John, and Peter up a mountain to show His glory to them. First, Jesus' face shines like the sun, and His clothes become white. All of this signifies the divinity of Jesus Christ. Next, Moses and Elijah show up. Their presence (Moses, who represents the Law, and Elijah, who represents the Prophets) solidifies that Jesus is the Messiah and fulfills God's promise.
"WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH FEAR?"
When Peter tells Jesus that he will set up camp, a voice from heaven proclaims that Jesus is His Son. It's God's voice that makes this proclamation. Something similar occurs when Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3.17). But, notice how the disciples react.
MATTHEW 17:6 NLT The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.
God's power is so overwhelming that it fills us with fear. We are reminded that we are not in control when we are in His presence. With the fear of God comes respect. The problem is that many of us don't fear God or at least act that way.
Instead, we fear other things more, such as:
As a result, we orient our lives and goals to focus on those things. We aim for perfection and the approval of others. And while it's essential to do our best and get along with others, when we prioritize those above God, we miss out on a full life. Instead, we need to:
WHEN WE RECOGNIZE THE POWER OF GOD'S GLORY, THE POWER OF FEAR HAS NO HOLD ON OUR LIFE.
We must recognize that Jesus' glory is that big, and nothing is more powerful than God, not even death. When we realize that God is more significant than our fears, we can remove the filters that hold us back from doing what we've been called to do.