September | 2009 | Craig T. Owens

September 2009
S	M	T	W	T	F	S
	1	2	3	4	5
6	7	8	9	10	11	12
13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21	22	23	24	25	26
27	28	29	30

Scarecrows In The Melon Patch

September 2, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Think about the imagery: some old clothes stuffed with straw, perhaps a burlap bag with a funny face drawn on it, and maybe a raggedy hat on top. Then hang this creation on a wooden pole, arms all akimbo, in an attempt to scare away birds from a melon patch.

Are you scared? I certainly hope not!

Yet this is exactly the thing God used to describe the fear His people were experiencing—

Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can they do any good.

The scarecrow doesn’t hurt anyone, but he doesn’t help either. God said His people were afraid of a scarecrow. But here’s the amazing part: they made their scarecrows!

These people had forgotten God—forgotten His goodness, forgotten His blessings, forgotten His mercy, forgotten His strength, forgotten His wisdom, forgotten His power. Since they had forgotten that He was the One in charge, that He was the One who could protect them, they tried to create their own protection. They built their own scarecrows, and then became afraid of what they created!

I think we have done the same thing today.

We have forgotten God’s goodness, forgotten His blessings, forgotten His mercy, forgotten His strength, forgotten got His wisdom, forgotten His power. To protect ourselves we have made scarecrows of economic systems, and governments, and elected officials, and medicines, and insurance companies. And just like scarecrows, they can do no harm nor can they do any good.

That’s why fear is so rampant in our hearts: We are looking to the scarecrows we have created instead of looking to the Creator who gave us life.

Are you fearful? Do you feel panicky? Does your future seem ominous? If so, perhaps there are a few scarecrows you need to dismantle. Rip them apart and scatter the straw to the wind. And then begin to read God’s Word. Jeremiah also records these words from God to us—

This is what the LORD says: “Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the LORD.

Understanding and knowing God’s kindness, justice, and righteousness will destroy your scarecrows and set you free from fear. Get rid of those scarecrows today!

Posted in Uncategorized. Tags: afraid, arrogance, economic downturn, fear, financial market collapse, forgetfulness, government scandal, idolatry, Jeremiah, pride, swine flu. 3 Comments »

Your Mission Field

September 1, 2009 — Craig T. Owens

Be honest: when you think of “mission field” what are the first images that come to your mind? Africa? India? Primitive living conditions? Non-English speaking people? I think that’s what most people think of. To tell the truth, that’s what I used to envision.

But notice what Jesus said to His followers just before He ascended into heaven:

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

The first mission field Jesus directed His followers to was Jerusalem. This was their “home town.” Maybe not the city they grew up in, but it was where Jesus conducted much of His public ministry; a place that His followers were intimately familiar with; the city where they currently lived.

They knew the language.
They knew the customs.
They knew the layout of the city.
They knew the elected officials.
They knew the religious officials.
They knew the local merchants.
They knew where the synagogues and schools were.
They knew this town.

Jesus didn’t call them first to someplace totally outside of their comfort zone. He called them to begin in their immediate surroundings.

Ponder this: you live in your “Jerusalem” and Jesus has called you to look at your city as your mission field. Your job … your school … your neighborhood … your barbershop … your local restaurants … these are all your mission field.

Don’t misunderstand: Missions is a worldwide endeavor, but don’t miss the point that your hometown is just as much a mission field as the other side of the globe is.

Strive to always be missionary-minded. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you, and then go be an effective missionary in your Jerusalem first, and then allow God to expand your missions involvement to the ends of the earth.