B. Breaking News in the world
C. Short Topic: SECURITY GUARDS
If you've been following the recent political campaigns, you probably watched a presidential hopeful give an impassioned speech at a rally to a cheering crowd of supporters. But if you watch closely enough, you'll notice a group of men who never cheer.
You can spot them by their outfit - black suits and sunglasses - and they won't cheer because they're on high-alert, providing a constant shield of protection around the candidate. This got me thinking: if I had security guards around me 24/7, would I ever be afraid?
The reality is that you and I don't have an entourage who travel with us. We're vulnerable people, and in our vulnerability, we run to a variety of systems that we hope can provide us with some sense of security. Do you find security in any of these below:
WEALTH. Maybe you work long hours or always pick up the overtime shift or spend much of your spare time tracking your investments and building a retirement portfolio. Money can solve a lot of problems, so the more we have, the fewer problems we'll have to face (or so we think!)
RELATIONSHIPS. The love, support, and respect of another person can be very powerful, so you build a network of partnerships with people who are your allies in life. You find a real comfort in harmonious relationships, and you do everything you can to maintain the peace.
SUCCESS. If you've been successful in the past, you'll find security in yourself. You trust your decision-making, your intuition, and your instincts. There hasn't been much to confuse or derail you, and even though you don't know what the future holds, you're not too concerned because you believe you can handle what life throws your way.
Here's the problem with those, and all other, security systems: life is ultimately outside of our control. No matter how hard we work, wealth can be wiped out in an instant. An accident or a disease can take a loved one away from you. Sin can do irreparable damage to a relationship. What made us personally successful today is not guaranteed for tomorrow.
But there's another group of people who feel little or no security whatsoever. Maybe your days are a cycle of concern, fear, and dread. Perhaps you hyper-analyze every decision you make, and you brutalize yourself with doubt after you make them.
Maybe, if you were totally honest, you would have to admit that you not only fear people, circumstances, and the future, but you fear something closer: you fear you. You have no confidence in yourself, and you're just anticipating your next big screw up.
Into this mess of false security and insecurity, the Bible introduces us to the world's best security guard. Psalm 27:1 says, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" (ESV)
It's fundamentally impossible to be in a situation, location, or relationship where God isn't present. It's impossible for anything to exist outside of the sphere of his control. It's impossible for anyone to be more powerful than him. It's impossible for what he desires and has chosen and planned not to come to be.
You should feel secure today, but not because you have control or understanding and not because you're strong and competent. No, you're secure for one reason alone: God exists and he is your Father. He will never leave your side. He will never fail to provide. He will make good on everything he has promised.
Only he has the power to do so.
D. Idioms:
Idioms - Matching Quiz
Click on the answer button to see if your answer is correct.
E. Bible Story: Luke 19:1-10
To take on a task that is way too big.
Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.
Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue Moon:
A rare event or occurrence.
Break A Leg:
A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying 'good luck', but rather the opposite.
Buy A Lemon:
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.
Can't Cut The Mustard :
Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.
Cast Iron Stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.
Charley Horse:
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.
Chew someone out:
Verbally scold someone.
Jesus and Zacchaeus
19 He entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 And behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector and was rich.3 And he was seeking to see who Jesus was, but on account of the crowd he could not, because he was small in stature. 4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see him, for he was about to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. 7 And when they saw it, they all grumbled, “He has gone in to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.” 8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I havedefrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, since he also is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
*****Last week's Idioms' answers:***
Bite Off More Than You Can Chew: To take on a task that is way too big.
Bite Your Tongue:
To avoid talking.
Blood Is Thicker Than Water:
The family bond is closer than anything else.
Blue Moon:
A rare event or occurrence.
Break A Leg:
A superstitious way to say 'good luck' without saying 'good luck', but rather the opposite.
Buy A Lemon:
To purchase a vehicle that constantly gives problems or stops running after you drive it away.
Can't Cut The Mustard :
Someone who isn't adequate enough to compete or participate.
Cast Iron Stomach:
Someone who has no problems, complications or ill effects with eating anything or drinking anything.
Charley Horse:
Stiffness in the leg / A leg cramp.
Chew someone out:
Verbally scold someone.
1 Thessalossians 5:28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
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