MATTHEW 6:34 – “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”

MATTHEW 17:1-7 – Six days later Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. And He was transfigured before them; and His face shone like the sun, and His “garments became as white as light. And behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them, talking with Him. Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if You wish, I will make three tabernacles here, one for You, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”  While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!”  When the disciples heard this, they fell face down to the ground and were terrified.  And Jesus came to them and touched them and said, “Get up, and do not be afraid.””

THEME OF THE DAY: TWO MOST DIFFICULT COMMANDS.  In the two portions of scripture directing today’s devotion, we find two commandments of God.  I have labeled these two most difficult commands for two reasons. First, each of us, maybe some more than others, know the paralyzing impact these emotions may have in our lives.  Once I identify them, we will be able to recall how past or present circumstances gripped us with such controlling force we felt sick – physically, spiritually, or emotionally. They are the powerful emotions of anxiety and being afraid.

First, Jesus addresses the beast of anxiety.  His statement in today’s scripture is the conclusion of a lengthy portion of His Sermon on the Mount on the topic.  It starts in verse twenty-five and is the longest point in His Sermon emphasizing for us the importance He places on us not being anxious.  Three times in this section, our Lord commands us don’t be anxious and the reason why is two-fold; He knows how devastating anxiety is to His children.  It is painful. It distracts us from Him. It is a poor witness for Him. Another reason the Lord places strong emphasis on not being anxious is because it sets us up for spiritual attacks, even defeat, by Satan, the world, and our flesh.  Anxiety drains us of strength and when weakened by anxiety, we are more vulnerable to spiritual attacks.

Next, Jesus brings us face to face with the command don’t be afraid.  This command appears in the account of Jesus taking Peter, John, and James to the Mount of Transfiguration.  While there, the disciples hear the Voice of God the Father affirm His Son, and the response of the disciples was terror.  Immediately Jesus commands them – don’t be afraid.   This type of fear, unhealthy fear, is an emotion just as paralyzing as anxiety.  It creates imaginary “what ifs” that can take us to dark places of discouragement, depression, even despair.  And if not dealt with Biblically, fear can become an obsession robbing us of joy and negatively impacting our relationships and quality of life.

Anxiety and fear. They are real. We know their painful grips upon us.  Our Lord in His compassion for us, gives the command that applies to both – don’t do them.  In doing so, Jesus shows us two things; we are incapable of obeying them in the strength of self, and He gives us the strength of His grace to obey them.  And for those reasons, we can rejoice. The power is available to slay the beasts of anxiety and fear.

PRAYER: Lord, enable me to see the sufficiency of Your grace to obey, not the difficulty in the command.

REFLECTION:  God never commands without giving the grace to obey His commands.