Beware!
One of my favorite childhood memories of Halloween was when my mom and some of her friends turned an old abandoned house into a haunted house for all the neighborhood kids. As a child, this haunted house felt so real and authentic. It included creepy trails, monsters jumping out from dark corners, scary stories, and witches. We bobbed for apples and ate lots of candy. The entire evening was magical.
To enter the haunted house we had to crawl through a dimly lit tunnel. As we approached the entrance to the tunnel, a sign read, “BEWARE!” I don’t know about you, but the word BEWARE triggers fear in me. The word beware puts me on high alert, it elevates my senses and makes me feel like I’m under an immediate threat or in danger. Especially, as a child, on a dark Halloween evening, in a small town in Nebraska, roaming through a lowly-lit abandoned house. But, even today, when I see the word BEWARE, I usually assume something is about to scare me or could potentially harm me.
In Philippians 3:2, Paul writes:
Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the concision.
Paul is writing to the people of Philippi warning them to watch out for the people who will try to misguide and mislead them away from their work of building and growing the church. My initial reaction to this verse is, “Oh no. The people of Philippi are under some sort of threat or in danger. This can’t be good.”
Have you ever wondered why a warning or the word BEWARE triggers fear in many of us?
The bible tells us, again and again, we were not created with a spirit of fear. “Fear not” is the most repeated command in the bible. Fear is not of God.
When Paul says BEWARE, he is not trying to stir fear in the people of Philippi. He is saying inform yourself, pay attention, be equipped, and be prepared. He is not saying be afraid, be unsure, or be suspicious. I believe that God desires the same for us. He wants us to confidently look our challenges in the eye knowing whose we are. He wants us to trust that he has fully equipped us and prepared us to handle our challenges.
Through his word, God is constantly reminding us he knows our future, he has our backs, and we can move forward with confidence.
What is the thing in your life right now that has a big BEWARE sign hanging on it? Is it COVID? Is it a relationship? Is it a medical condition? Is it uncertainty about a job, a situation, or the future?
As parents, what is that thing that is causing you to harbor fear, insecurity, or doubt in your heart? Are you worried about a teacher relationship, a troubling behavior, your ability to be a parent, your spouse, or your ability to keep your child safe? For me, as a parent, I fight off fears daily. I often find the magnitude of my role as a parent utterly overwhelming.
But God has so much more planned for us. So, instead of letting the word BEWARE trigger fear, let’s begin to look at it as a gentle nudge from God to keep us straight on our journey with him. Let’s look at BEWARE signs as God saying, “There is turbulence ahead, but I’ve got you and I have fully equipped you.” Let’s take those BEWARE signs and embrace them as God’s way of reminding us he will protect us on the road ahead, no matter what it holds.
Whatever it is in your life that has a big BEWARE sign hanging on it, today I pray that you face it with confidence knowing whose you are and believing that He has fully equipped you to take this head-on in the complete absence of fear, self-doubt, anxiety, or insecurity.
And let’s speak this truth into our children every day. When they are standing at the mouth of a dark tunnel that seems scary and unknown, let’s gently remind them they are equipped, able, prepared, and never alone because of who made them and who loves them.
Thank you, God, for all the BEWARE signs that you give us. Your BEWARE signs give us a heads-up to be better prepared for the challenges that lie ahead. Your BEWARE signs remind us you are there and nothing is too big or too scary for us when we are walking with you. Your BEWARE signs are a true blessing and were never intended to trigger fear in us, and for that, we are so very grateful. We lift this all up with an abundance of gratitude.