Following Jesus the I AM

I heard the story of a country preacher who would visit a widow in his church named Mrs. Jones. He liked to visit her at lunchtime because she would prepare a meal with fresh vegetables from her garden that they’d eat at a picnic table.

But one day, he arrived a little early, and knocked on the door, and she didn’t answer.

So he walked through her garden calling for her, but never found her.

Finally, he left a note on her door with a simple scripture reference, “Rev. 3:20.”

What he didn’t realize is Mrs. Jones was getting out of the shower, when he came. She was too embarrassed answer without time to get ready, so she waited until he left.

After he left, she opened the door, got the note, and opened her Bible to Rev. 3:20,

“Behold I stand at the door and knock and if anyone hear my voice, I will come in and eat with them.”

Mrs. Jones laughed, and then she sent her pastor a note.

“I got your verse from the last book of the Bible. Read this one from the first book of the Bible and you’ll understand my predicament— Genesis 3:10.”

When the pastor opened his Bible, he read…

“I heard thy voice in the garden, & I was afraid for I was naked, & I hid myself.”

Gen. 3:10 is the 1st reference to fear in the Bible.

Before Adam & Eve sinned, they never experienced fear. Until they disobeyed God.

Since then, because of sin, fear has been part of our human existence.

This morning we see…

A.   You will often feel afraid in life’s storms.

At the end of v. 50, Jesus tells His disciples, “Be not afraid.”

Now who is He talking to? Strong, blue-collar fishermen, sailors—who rowed the oars with muscular arms & hauled in fish with burly shoulders. But they were afraid.

See, as men, especially fathers, we hate to admit our fears. But they’re real.

·      We fear we won’t measure up to the expectations our families have for us.

·      We fear we won’t be able to adequately provide enough for our families.

·      We fear we won’t be able to always protect our families.

·      Maybe more than anything we fear the day when our families won’t need us.