Saddle Up
By
Phil Scovell
Copyright (C) 1997/2003
By Phil Scovell
All Rights Reserved
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Phil Scovell
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Denver, Colorado 80226-8017
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Email: Phil@RedWhiteAndBlue.ORG
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SADDLE-UP
By
Phil Scovell
A common topic of radio and television talk shows is "Coping
With Stress." "stressed out, stress level, stress zones, STRESS
TOLERANCE, stress analysis, stress syndrome, stress critical",
and "stress fatigue" are but a few buzz words used to
characterize the pressure faced in today's society.
The coping with, or handling of, such stress has become a
multi-million dollar industry. Books, magazine articles, stress
clinics, counseling, cassette recordings of ocean sounds with
subliminal messages, relaxation tapes, meditation, drugs, diet,
music, hobbies, exercise programs, seminars, and even herbal
compounds all are promoted and prescribed in various ways to deal
with stress. Specialists are hired by companies to teach
employees how to deal with stress problems. Radio talk shows
feature psychologists who offer advice to those who call with
problems on a daily bases. Psychics, once called "mediums," now
"channelers," furnish counseling services to assist troubled
individuals by looking into the supernatural for a substantial
fee. Even churches have succumb to hosting "Christian" seminars
so pastors, church leaders and laity can learn how to cope with
the effects of stress upon the Christian life. Fortunately, the
Bible offers a simple solution for the Bible Believer and it's
free.
I Peter 5:7
CASTING ALL YOUR CARE UPON HIM; FOR HE CARES FOR YOU.
This was a peculiar thing for Peter to say! He, Peter, was
compulsive, zealous, argumentative, pertinacious, critical,
capricious, fickle, sometimes faithless, impulsive, aberrant, and
even violent. He lied, forsook his calling, denied his Lord, and
often seemed to be plagued with discouragement. Yet, he
encourages us to "cast our cares" upon the Lord. This can only
mean two things: Personal deliverance had been experienced, and
he was led of the Holy Spirit when he wrote. Since Peter's words
are inspired of God, let's consider the meaning of the words he
used.
CARE
We are told to "cast all our care" upon the Lord. The Greek
word for "care" is rendered (solicitude). In another words, all
our concerns, fears, apprehensions, and anxiousness is to be cast
upon the Lord. This word, "care," is used five other times in the
New Testament.
In Matthew 13, we find our Lord's parable on the sowing of
seed. Actually it is a parable of the four types of soil rather
than just of a sower planting seed. The soils in which seed was
planted are described as: way side soil, stony ground, thorns,
and good ground. The seed dropped on the earth by the way side
was quickly DEVOURED by birds. Those falling into stony ground
failed to produce because of shallow roots. The seeds planted
where thorns grew were "choked" and thus became unfruitful. The
seeds planted in the fertile soil produced prolifically and
predictively.
The word "care" from I Peter 5:7 appears first in the
reference to the seed planted among the thorns.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that
heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, choked the word, and he
becometh unfruitful. (Matt. 13:22).
Here we gain perspicacity to the true nature of the word
"care" used later by Peter in his epistle. It is that pertaining
to this "world" which "chokes" our intimacy with God. Jesus
includes "the deceitfulness of riches" in his story; Thus, the
riches of this world, rendered (wealth), can and do choke, [the
Greek word is (strangled completely]), our fellowship with God.
I might add that such can happen whether one is opulent or not.
It is the love of money which is the root of all evil, (I Tim.
6:10), not the possession or lack of which chokes/strangles the
Word.
Mark also makes reference to our Lord's parable of the sower
and thus the second use of the Greek word "care" is found.
And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as
hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the
deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things
enter in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
(Mark 4:18-19).
Mark's account includes "the lusts of other things" as
compatible with the "cares of this world," and the "deceitfulness
of riches." The word "lusts" actually is translated (longing).
This (longing) of other things "entering in" is a worldly mundane
intrusion which sidetracks one's personal relationship with our
Heavenly Father. Thus again our fellowship is choked/strangled
by the care of this world.
Luke likewise records this parable in his Gospel but adds
something more to bring the picture into definite focus.
And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when
they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares
and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no
fruit to perfection. (Luke 4:14).
"Pleasures" is interpreted as (sensual delights). This same
word is found four other times in the New Testament and simply
refers to those things of a physical/fleshly nature which are
done to please body - senses. In modern vernacular, (sensual)
implies sexual; but such is not the case in Greek. It is true
that such could refer to the sexual nature but the Greek word
includes, rather than refers, to the sexual. Thus, that which
pleases, gratifies, in deference to the spiritual or
intellectual. Such are the "cares" of this world. It also
should be noted that Luke says that these things, the cares,
riches, and pleasures, of this world hinder one from producing
fruit of "perfection." This word, "perfection," refers to
(maturity). Such worldly cares and conduct are inimical to
spiritual maturity and thus growth is impeded.
Again in Luke's Gospel, our Lord makes use of the word
"care" in reference to His return:
"And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your
hearts b overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness,
and cares of this life, and so that day come upon
unawares." (Luke 21:34).
"Surfeiting" is our word for (headache) and "drunkenness" is self
interpretive. Headaches, whether from stress or drunkenness,
are; in this case, associated with the "cares of this life."
They are, perhaps, symptomatic of the "cares" and may even
perpetuate the "cares" of this life; but they are related.
Paul likewise made reference to such "cares" in his
epistles. In II Corinthians 11:23-27, Paul offers a rather
lengthy list of those things which he had suffered for the cause
of Christ. His experiences included ship wreck, imprisonment,
beatings, stoning, hunger, pain, cold and nakedness, as well as
conflict with many who tried to stop his Gospel preaching. We
could certainly say all such would bring stress to his life but
in light of such hardship, (stress) seems to be an inadequate
description. He concludes, however, by saying sententiously in
verse 28 that he likewise shoulders the "cares" of all the
churches.
From viewing all the passages where the Greek word "care" is
used, we should be able to grasp Peter's usage in I Peter 5:7:
"Casting all your care upon Him..." The "cares" we are to cast
upon our Lord as Christians are those circumstances and
situations which bring stress, fear, doubt, discouragement, and
even defeat to the Christian's life. The symptoms of such stress
- headaches, sleeplessness, obesity, anorexia, nervousness,
depression, anger, and a host of other pernicious infirmities -
all would likewise fall into the category of "cares" which are to
be cast upon the Lord. Additionally, all such things used to
override these "cares" - alcohol, drugs, tobacco, sleeping pills,
tranquilizers - would find less prominence in our lives if we
could just learn to "cast all our care upon the Lord." The
question is, how do we learn to "cast" our burdens/cares upon the
Lord?
CASTING
We are told by Peter that the way we unburden the "cares" of
this life is by "casting." It means to (throw upon), but it also
carries with it the idea of stacking one upon another as stacking
papers or blocks. In short...layering. This is an unusual word
and is found, in this same identical form, only one other time
in the New Testament.
And they cast their garments upon the colt, and they
set Jesus thereon. And as He went, they spread their
cloths in the way. And when He was come nigh, even now
at the decent of the mount of olives, the whole
multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise
God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that
they had seen; saying, Blessed be the King that comes
in the name of the Lord: peace in Heaven, and glory in
the highest. (Luke 19:35-38).
This event in the life of our Lord is recorded in each of
the four Gospels. Although Mark uses a similar word which is
rendered "cast" and is likewise translated (to throw upon), it is
a slightly different word than was later used by Peter in his
epistle.
As seen from the Gospel record, Jesus was placed upon a
colt, a young donkey, and entered Jerusalem. The people laid
their coats and other personal clothing on the ground in front as
well as branches from palm trees to show their humility and
submission to Jesus as the Christ. It is interesting to note,
however, that the word "cast" was used to describe the act of
pulling their coats off and laying them upon the colt before
Jesus mounted the animal. In another words, they placed several
layers of personal clothing on the colt before allowing Jesus to
ride the donkey. This gives insight as to the usage of this same
Greek word when Peter instructed us to "Cast" our cares upon the
Lord. As they "cast" their personal garments upon the back of
the colt on which Jesus was to ride, so we should, as Believers,
cast; or shed, ourselves of personal cares and concerns in order
that we might be free to worship and serve our Lord.
It is also interesting to note that the "Triumphant Entry"
of our Lord into Jerusalem - the city of peace - was not only
preceded by the removal of personal outer clothing to place on
the back of the colt but then the same procedure was followed as
he road into the city. As such was done, the Gospels all record
that those who did so rejoiced and praised God.
If we are careful to "cast all our cares" upon our Lord -
placing them one-by-one upon Him - we must assume therefore that
we would then be free to rejoice and praise God for all He as
done. Stress, personal conflicts, strained emotions,
unmanageable circumstances, impossible situations, and all such
worry must be pealed off and stripped away in order to be laid
upon our Lord. If we are unable to handle all such problems, why
not allow Him to take responsibility for them since he has
expressed His desire to do so?
HE CARES FOR YOU
Often circumstances dictate indifference. "Does God really
care?" Yet Peter confirms He does. This word translated
"careth" in the King James is the Greek word (melo). It simply
means (to be of interest to). This same word is often used
negatively in the New Testament. For example, when a storm was
causing the ship to sink and Jesus was asleep in the hinder part
of the boat, His disciples came and said, "Lord, don't you care?"
[See Mark 4]. Yet Peter, in a positive way, uses this word to
reveal God's deep concern for His own.
The word for "meditation" in the New Testament is used only
three times as (premeditate, imagine), and (meditate). It is
translated (to revolve in the mind). The root word for
(meditate) comes from the Greek word which Peter uses - "For He
cares for you." Merging these two thoughts, we can say that our
Lord is deeply concerned about us and we are continually in His
thoughts. If this is so, why should we carry those burdens which
He desires to bare for us?
SADDLE-UP
In Luke's Gospel we read that after they placed their
personal garments upon the colt, they "set Jesus thereon," (Luke
19:35). Simply, they saddled the colt for the Lord by laying
those things personal, which they removed from their own bodies,
upon the colt and then "they placed Jesus thereon." Our personal
involvement is necessary if we are going to "cast" all our cares
upon the Lord. We must expurgate, strip, ourselves of those
things personal to our lives which would in any way hinder us
from personal contact with our Lord. He is interested, willing,
and concerned that we do exactly that but He will not remove them
or even carry the burden unless we act by faith. We must place
Him squarely on our problems and we can only do that by prayer.
PRAYER
Most of us try to complicate prayer and make it something
difficult, something hard, something unobtainable, or something
impractical. Let me suggest something you may find difficult to
accept at first. Each day, either morning or evening, or
whenever it is a time in which you can remain quiet before the
Lord for a few minutes, sit, or kneel, or even stand and simply
think before the Lord. Many practice this simple form of prayer
while walking, jogging, or riding a bicycle. Specifically think
of everything which is heavy on your heart. Consider yourself
before the Lord in uncomplicated prayer. Specifically lay out
your problems, worries, dissatisfactions, fears, doubts,
inconsistencies, failures, frustrations, and limitations before
the One who cares, is interested, in you. Lay them one-upon-
another. Stack them up in thought. If you find this difficult
to do mentally at first, take pad and pen and write these things
on a page one-by-one and stack them up before you on the desk or
table. In this way, you will be allowing your thoughts to become
His. When you have exhausted all the things which are troubling
you at the moment and you have emptied yourself of all the worry
and fear which accompanies them; release them and He will lift
them from you. Then begin to worship.
"How long should I practice this form of prayer?"
Daily! Perhaps more than once a day if necessary.
"How will I know they have been lifted from me?"
Peace will replace those burdens. Remember what happened when
they saddled the colt for their Lord and laid their personal
garments before Him as He road into Jerusalem - the city of
peace? They worshipped Him and praised God with a loud voice.
We must do the same if we are going to practice casting all our
cares upon Him. It is during this time of praise and worship we
find God's thoughts becoming ours. When that occurs, we will
experience "the peace of God which transcends all understanding,"
(Phil. 4:7).
DOES IT WORK?
Most do not experience much the first few times they pray in this
fashion and quickly assume failure. It must be practiced by
faith - "Without faith it is impossible to please God," (Heb.
11:6). If you remain faithful in practicing this form of prayer
- exchanging your thoughts for God's - you will be rewarded, not
to mention amazed, at just how much He cares for you.
Something to remember, however, is that this practice does
not mean your problems disappear. The experience of those
saddling the colt for their Lord was that "they" were changed and
thus were then able to rejoice and praise God for His mighty
works. Yes they had seen many miracles done by Jesus before this
occurred. In fact, John's Gospel records this "triumphant Entry"
happened the day following the resurrection of Lazarus. We
cannot, however, live on passed experience, passed miracles, or
passed victories. We must exercise faith, and worship the Lord,
for what He is going to do today; and what He is going to do is
carry our cares if we will cast them upon Him. If we will cast
our burdens upon the Lord, exchange our thoughts for His, we will
be free from the "cares" of this world and thus liberated; we can
worship Him with deep spiritual intimacy.
Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain
you: He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
(Psalm 55:22).
End Of Document
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