EmmDev 2026-08-12 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] What does F.E.A.R. mean?

What does F.E.A.R. mean?

A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind. (Mark14:51-52)

Some early Christian writers suggested that this young man was Mark himself. If that tradition is right, Mark's own story begins with fear and failure.

FEAR can mean
Forget Everything And Run
or Fear Ends At Reverence.

John-Mark's early life was marked by the first meaning of FEAR.

In Acts 15:37-39 we read: "Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him, because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work. They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company."

I think we can all identify with that desire to run away.
- When a tough confrontation is coming...
- When we have messed up and need to "fess up"...
- When our day looms large and starts badly...
- When that dreaded phone call comes...
- When the diagnosis is not good...

Along the way, Mark grew from the young man who ran away into the trusted co-worker to Paul and Peter.
Peter calls him "my son Mark" and we think that Mark wrote his gospel based on Peter's sermons.
Paul mentions him twice, once in connection to an assignment given to him and the other is a wish that Timothy will bring him along on his next visit to Paul.

It seems that Mark learned to overcome his fear...

His gospel presents Jesus as a tireless healer, preacher, teacher who faced the cross with simple dignity and grace.

It would seem he learned to trust in the power and love of God.
And realised that Christ was greater than his fears.

When we say Fear Ends At Reverence, it doesn't mean that scary things suddenly stop being scary. It means that our fear is put into perspective by our reverence for God. We see the frightening thing... but we see God as greater. Our trust in Him gives us the courage to face what frightened us.

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EmmDev 2026-08-11 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Faith vs Fear #1 - Waves and Wind

This week we look at Faith vs Fear....

Faith vs Fear #1 - Waves and Wind

"Lord, if it's You," Peter replied, "tell me to come to You on the water." "Come," He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out His hand and caught him. "You of little faith," He said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God." (Matthew14:28-33)

Our relationship with God is personal and intimate - and it is based on faith.

But faith is a tough word to define.
Our gospel account of Peter's Galilee-stroll is a very valuable lesson in the nature of faith.

It's the fourth watch of the morning (3AM-6AM).
The disciples have been pulling against the oars all night.
Their body clocks are at their lowest ebb.
They're exhausted and jumpy.
Then a scary apparition comes across the water.
They're terrified.
He calls to them and they hear His reassurance,
But it's Jesus and He says "Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid."

Peter calls and is invited to do what he asked to do.
And so he hoists his leg over the gunwale...
and plants his first foot on the water...
and takes his first step...
Towards Jesus...

Maybe Peter's faith is best described as his trust in Jesus.
Maybe faith is not merely a complex set of beliefs.
Or just the tight set of a determined jaw.
It's not simple mind over water.
Maybe it's that Peter sees Jesus and wants to be with Him.

Faith is a relationship with One who is Trustworthy.
Faith is trust. It's wanting to be where He is.

Peter is fine while he's moving toward Jesus.
It's when He looks elsewhere that he sinks.
But even then Jesus has him - because Jesus is trustworthy.

There will always be wind.
Fear will always try to overpower, sabotage or undermine our faith.
The longer we look in fear's direction the faster we will sink.

Faith is not a cranial mindset - it's a trusting relationship where we move toward Him. It's taking another step closer to Him and knowing that no matter where He's standing - on water, in the fire, or in the tomb - He is able to catch us.

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EmmDev 2026-08-07 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Time #4 - Eternity

Time #4 - Eternity

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. (Ecclesiastes3:11)

We started the week with the Ecclesiastes' poem on the times and seasons of our lives.
It reminded us that along with the steady march of time, we have moments and opportunities that we should not miss.

The writer of Ecclesiastes calls himself "the Teacher", and throughout the book he reflects on life's deepest questions.
From the clues we find in the text, most scholars conclude that:

• he was probably wealthy, maybe a king or of a royal family
• he had become disillusioned with wealth, power and the rat-race of life
• he rejected simplistic cause-and-effect morality, because sometimes the righteous suffered and the wicked prospered.
• and although he comes across cynical and negative, there is a real search for God in his journey

The Teacher concludes his poem about the times and seasons of life with three powerful conclusions:

1. He makes everything beautiful in its time. God is at work in all the moments of our lives and, as we trust and follow Him, He is able to bring beauty even out of painful experiences. This echoes Romans 8:28: "God works in all things for the good of those who love Him."
2. Although our lives are moments and seasons lived in the relentless march of chronos, God has set eternity in our hearts. We are eternal beings living in a temporary world, and the choices we make today are shaping us for eternity. Deep within us is a longing for more than this temporary world can offer. Augustine prayed, "Our hearts are restless until they find their rest in Thee," and Blaise Pascal spoke of a "God-shaped vacuum" within every person.
3. We can't fathom it all, because our perspective is limited, but we need to trust God who sees the whole Story from beginning to end.

Our passages this week have taught us that time keeps moving, but God is preparing us for eternity. We are urged to recognise the moments, grab the moment, number our days and remember that we are shaping our eternal souls. Time marches along but there are moments to grab and a God who sees it all and made us to spend eternity with Him.
Time passes. Eternity doesn't. Live today with and Eternal perspective. And trust the One who knows the whole Story.

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EmmDev 2026-08-06 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Time #3 - Number our Days

Time #3 - Number our Days

Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalms90:12)

This is probably the oldest Psalm we have and it's the only one ascribed to Moses.
We think he wrote it during their 40 year wandering in the desert after the Israelites rejected the advice of Caleb and Joshua to trust God and enter the Promised Land.

The outcome of that rebellion was that the Israelites would wander the desert for 40 years so that the current generation would pass away and a new generation would enter Canaan. So Moses leads and guides for 40 years, attending many funerals of people who had died without reaching their destination.

Psalm 90 is a reflection on God's eternal nature and justice and humanity's temporariness.
At the heart of his Psalm is his prayer.
"Teach us to number our days aright: that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Notice that Moses isn't asking for more time.
He's asking that they will use their time well.
He doesn't pray for a longer life. He prays for a wiser one.

If he were writing in Greek maybe he would write: "While chronos ticks by help me to recognise the kairos.

This is so important.
Even when things are busy, we need to notice those moments where we need to appreciate beauty, have a significant relational interaction, reach out a helping hand, or hear God's voice.

We all get 24 hours and seven days a week.
We all have bills to pay, work to do, commutes to make, and to-do lists that tap their toes.

But Moses prays that we'll see eternity in the kairos moments that pop up in the relentless march of chronos and make good choices...

As I reflected on this passage in the sermon, five simple truths emerged that help us number our days wisely
1. I cannot do everything.
2. I cannot be everywhere.
3. I cannot say yes to every request.
4. I should make the right choices in the key moments
5. I mustn't postpone what truly matters forever.

Remember: It's not how much time we have, but how we use it.

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EmmDev 2026-08-05 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Time #2 - Grab Them

Time #2 - Grab Them

Be very careful, then, how you live -- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit... (Ephesians5:15-18)

You guessed it...
The word Paul uses for opportunity is "kairos".

He's been talking to the Ephesians about being light in the darkness - that they have to recognise that even though there is brokenness all around, the resurrection light of Christ shines on us, in us, and through us.

So we need to seize the day, grasp the moment, and grab the opportunity.
The word he uses for "making the most of" is fascinating. If you pull it apart its very literal meaning is "out of the marketplace." Imagine yourself going through the market place and spotting an item you've really wanted at a bargain price and there's only one left. What do you do? You pounce! You grab it! You don't miss a moment.

This word is used four times in the New Testament, all of them by Paul. In Galatians he uses it twice to talk about how Jesus redeemed us (think of a desperate slave on sale in the market place being bought and set free by Christ). Then he uses it here in Ephesians and also in Colossians, and both times he uses it in relation to "kairos" and how we must buy back, redeem, rescue or deliver those moments God gives us. Do you sense the urgency?

The point he makes is this: Our world is broken, "the days are evil", but there are moments that can be "bought out" of brokenness and infused with the resurrection light of Christ:
A moment to show appreciation to someone who is taken for granted...
A window to be kind to someone who has experienced harshness...
An opportunity to share our hope with someone who needs it...
A moment to right an injustice...

We come across these moments every day. We can be distracted and miss them, we can be foolish and waste the moment or we can buy them out of the marketplace of brokenness. Sometimes we think that it will cost us too much, but it is God who places the opportunity there and He will provide.

How can we do this well and not miss the moments?
Paul gives us four bits of guidance:

1. Don't be dumb - be wise. Stupidity is freely available, it's populist, comfortable, and egocentric. 
   Wisdom takes work to get to. It requires reflection, consultation with wise people and sources and sees beyond self.
2. Understand the Lord's will - this means spending time with Him and in His Word.
3. Don't anesthetize yourself either with alcohol, drugs, you-tube, social media or other distractions.
4. Be filled with the Spirit - ask the Holy Spirit to move in you and guide and prompt you.

One last thought: Paul isn't asking us to squeeze more into the day. He's just asking us to grab what's there.
Don't fill your diary - fill your moments.
God puts the moments there, and, armed with the light of the resurrected Christ and filled with the Spirit, we can buy them back!

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EmmDev 2026-08-04 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Time #1 - Moments

Time #1 - Moments

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes3:1-8)

When I preached on this passage, I borrowed two useful Greek words from the New Testament: chronos and kairos. Chronos is clock time: minutes, hours and days. Kairos is the significant moment, the opportune occasion. While Ecclesiastes was written in Hebrew rather than Greek, these two words provide a helpful way of thinking about time.

Ecclesiastes was written by someone in search of truth and meaning. His exploration is sharp and critical - he is disillusioned with much of the fluff of life. He has explored work, hedonism, power and wealth and found them all wanting. While he is dismissive of many things, he finds some truths along the way.

One of the truths he finds is that while life has many "chronos" times,
what gives time meaning is the "kairos" moments...
A time to be born, a time to die, a time to plant...
So the significance of time is not the hours and dates, it's the moments.

How often do we find ourselves rushing for "deadlines", frantically keeping schedules and packing life full of appointments and events, but missing the moments?

Meaning is not found in how many hours we spend at work.
Purpose is not found in a full calendar.
Sometimes we just need to be late so that we can watch our toddler take their first steps.
Sometimes we need to replace the whistle stop tour of Europe for a slow holiday on a quiet beach where we can bond with our kids instead of chasing them from train to bus to plane.

The saddest thing is when a moment happens and we rush past it.
We need to learn how to escape the tyranny of the "chronos" to embrace the "kairos."

Jesus did this very well. He never seemed hurried. He had time for interruptions because He recognised moments. A blind beggar's cry, a woman touching His cloak, children climbing into His lap, a conversation beside a well. He never allowed the schedule to rob Him of the moment.

Life happens in the moments.
And in those moments the clock keeps ticking, but our hearts realise that something eternal is happening.

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EmmDev 2026-07-31 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Priorities and Balance #4 - A New Perspective

Priorities and Balance #4 - A New Perspective

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (Colossians3:1-4)

A perspective is a vantage point - it's your point of view.
It's where you look at the world from.
It's the lens you look through.
It's the underlying reality that informs what you see and how you respond.
It's the compass that guides the direction of our steps.

Paul doesn't begin with a command - he begins with an identity.
Paul is clear about what our perspective should be.
- We were dead, but Christ has raised us to life.
- Our destination is with Christ who is seated at God's right hand.
- Our desire, longing and focus should be on "things above" not temporary earthly things.
- Christ will return and we will be with Him, leaving this world behind.

This should surely change our priorities from things that have temporal value to things that have eternal value. It should surely help us to be less trapped by the "stuff" of this world. And it will surely help us to find the balance between meeting temporary needs and making eternal investments.

I love Paul's phrasing:
"You died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."

It speaks of rescue and intimacy and safety.
The world around us doesn't understand it.
Our eternal hope is "hidden" for now, but it is certain because the tomb is empty and Christ is risen, ascended and returning.

What is your current perspective?
Maybe you've been looking down too much.
It's time to remember and look up:
You were broken, sinful and unsure
and you were spiritually dead.
BUT Jesus took your life and wrapped it in His Death and Resurrection.
And you are forgiven and are destined for eternity with Him!

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EmmDev 2026-07-30 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Priorities and Balance #3 - Presence over Protocol

Priorities and Balance #3 - Presence over Protocol

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to His teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to Him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." (Luke10:38-43)

This is a powerful parable-in-real-life.
It doesn't need a lot of explaining, but here's a few thoughts...

Hospitality was very highly valued in the Ancient Near East. So Martha's choice to focus on the meal and being a good hostess is understandable and even commendable.

And that's the problem with priorities.
They are sometimes hard to call.
Sometimes two things can look almost equally important and it's hard to decide which one counts most.
The catch with Martha is not that she was being hospitable but that she had made too much of it. The text tells us that she was "distracted with much serving." And, when we look at her complaint to Jesus, it is the language of a victim. There's the strong sense that her focus was more about the task than about delighting in Jesus.

Mary sits at Jesus feet. She enjoys the moment - we'll talk about time next week.
She chooses presence over protocol, connection over impressions.
I'm sure that, if it were needed, she would have whipped up a quick meal, but she avoids Martha's vortex of activity and chooses to be with Jesus.

Jesus' answer to Martha is very telling.
Although some translations put it differently, in the original Greek the wording is that Mary has chosen the good portion and it's a clever pun about Martha's choice. Martha is preoccupied with serving a portion of food. Mary has chosen the good portion: Jesus Himself. One meal will soon be forgotten. The portion Mary received "will not be taken away from her".

Every day we are faced with good choices and better ones.
There is work to do, meals to prepare and responsibilities to fulfill.
But before we do anything for Jesus, we must first spend time with Jesus.
The good portion is still available to everyone who will sit at His feet.

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EmmDev 2026-07-29 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Priorities and Balance#2 - First

Priorities and Balance#2 - First

So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew6:31-33)

Few things rob us of balance more quickly than worry, and few things restore it more effectively than putting God first.

The balance lies in not being dominated by stress and worry. We do need to eat and drink but we should not be become obsessed about what we eat and wear. Earlier in this chapter Jesus spoke about the birds of the air and the flowers of the field and how God provides for them. The birds forage diligently and plants sink their roots deep and turn sunlight into food but there is joy and beauty in what they do. Obsession turns labour and housework into slavery. Balancing gratitude, trust and diligence is the key to a balanced life. We have gratitude for God's provision both through opportunity and ability, we trust God to watch over us and give us strength and then we bring our best efforts to the table.

But Jesus also calls us to have the right priorities and we have to get the top one right. First and foremost, our most important priority should be to ensure that we are seeking God's Kingdom and righteousness.

The Greek verb Jesus uses for "seek" is "zēteite" and it is significant because Jesus uses it in a positive and a negative sense in this passage. The pagans run after all the wrong things, but Jesus calls His followers to seek the Kingdom of God first. The verb means to seek, pursue, strive after, aim for and desire. Jesus uses it in a present, continuous and imperative tense - "keep on seeking". We are being commanded to have a deep desire and longing for God's kingdom and righteousness. What makes it striking is that Jesus isn't asking us to perform an action - He's asking us to cultivate a passion. If it were an action then we could tick the box and move on, but we're being asked to have a continuous longing that permeates all we do.

And it needs to be FIRST. Above all else. Above ambition. Above earthly affections. Above all.

And what do we long for? God's kingdom and righteousness. Longing for His kingdom means continually asking: "If God were King of this situation, how would it go down? How would He want me to behave? What outcomes would God want us to pursue? What are the priorities and principles that would apply here?" Pursuing God's righteousness adds moral depth to the idea of "kingdom." Sometimes people will cut corners because they argue that the end justifies the means, but in pursuing the kingdom we must also do things the right way.

Our balance comes from doing our part without becoming obsessed with the results. Our priority is to nurture a deep and growing passion to see God crowned as King in every part of our lives.

When the Kingdom comes first, everything else finds its proper place.

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EmmDev 2026-07-28 [Wisdom for Every Day Life] Priorities and Balance #1 - The Foundation

Priorities and Balance #1 - The Foundation

After a long winter break, EmmDevs are back.
I've been busy with a sermon series entitled "Wisdom for Everyday Life"
You can watch the sermons on https://bit.ly/WisdomSermonPlaylist
The eight sermons were:

1. Priorities and Finding Balance
2. Time: Rejuvenation and Distraction (Serving Without Burning Out)
3. Faith vs Fear (Anxiety, Ignorance or Sober Faith)
4. Forgiveness vs Bitterness
5. Sober thinking in an opinionated world
6. Seasoned Words (De-escalating in a world that ramps up quickly)
7. Contentment vs Comparison
8. Faithful Witness: Strong Convictions, Gentle Hearts

The plan is to devote 3 or 4 EmmDevs to each theme...

We start with Priorities and Balance

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God -- this is your true and proper worship. (Romans12:1)

In a series that deals with many practical qualities (wisdoms) that should be present in mature believers' lives, it is vital to make sure that the starting point is not human effort.

Paul is crystal clear about that. He spends 11 chapters laying a foundation.
- We were dead in our sins and only Christ could save us.
- By ourselves we can't do good or avoid evil, only the Holy Spirit can do that.
- Even the fates of nations are in God's hands and not a matter of self-determination.

The starting point is not our effort, but God's mercy.
God has rescued us. God has redeemed us, saved us, chosen us.
He loved us first and saved us when we were powerless.

And anything we do is a response.

And the response to which Romans 12 calls us is a life of WORSHIP.
This is life's great priority.
The Westminster Confession (paraphrased) states:
"Humankind's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever."

Worship is not something that we do only on Sundays.
It's offering our bodies as "living sacrifices."
Dead sacrifices cannot climb off the altar. A living sacrifice can - but chooses not to.
A living sacrifice learns to ask "In this situation what would Jesus do? What glorifies God?"

And, strangely enough, counter-intuitively, this worship is not onerous.
We discover that when God is at the centre, we have come home.
And we enjoy God.

Paul uses an interesting word for "proper."
In Greek it is "logikos".
It can mean "reasonable", "logical", "spiritual", "rational", "fitting", "appropriate", or "considered."

Paul is saying:
When you consider the vastness of God's Mercy then worship: is a reasonable, logical, rational and appropriate response and is the most spiritually congruent thing we can do.

We prioritise God because He prioritised us...

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