Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.
Jeremiah 33:6 (emphasis added)

I don’t think anyone following the events around the globe today would argue that the world is fine. In fact, it is so NOT fine that they are choosing to reject Yahweh as a God of Love because there is little to anything lovely or loving about the world which we have developed for each other. Not that it would be fair to blame everything on ourselves – we are in a FALLEN creation, not a perfect one (Romans 8:20-22). At the same time, it cannot be argued that humanity has made a myriad of poor choices which has led us to a less than stellar world community.

There are more than 110 armed conflicts in the world today: Middle East & North Africa: 45+, Africa: 35+, Asia: 21, Europe: 7, Latin America: 6. That’s some list when you consider that barely a dozen of them make the news cycle. Some are recent, but others have raged for more than 50 years. Is it THAT commonplace? Sadly, yes. In places where there is no conflict, it can seem so far away. But in the regions of the world where it has broken out, the world itself seems broken. “You will hear of wars and rumors of wars. Make sure that you are not alarmed, for this must happen, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise up in arms against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places” (Matthew 24:6-7).

Jesus warned us there would be war, but He doesn’t DESIRE it. It is a source of SORROW for Yahweh. These things we do (which the world claims is our nature) bring sorrow to the Lord because they are NOT what we were meant to live in or through. War is a result of the curse. “Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you? You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask;” (James 4:1-2).

We don’t have to go as far as nations against nations to find that which is broken. Do we have widows? Do we have orphans? Are there homeless people? Do children have food every day? Do adults? “You must not afflict any widow or orphan. If you afflict them in any way and they cry to me, I will surely hear their cry, and my anger will burn and I will kill you with the sword, and your wives will be widows and your children will be fatherless” (Exodus 22:22-24). “Learn to do what is right. Promote justice. Give the oppressed reason to celebrate. Take up the cause of the orphan. Defend the rights of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17).

Yahweh has a heart for those who are defenceless. For those forgotten by those around them. It doesn’t matter their age or socio-economic circumstances. The Lord wants them taken care of. Because He doesn’t like people going hungry. He doesn’t like people alone. He doesn’t like it when there isn’t a support network in place for us. He created us to be together (Genesis 2:18). From the Law right up to the Epistles you see people with the heart for others and commandments for us to care for those in poorer circumstances. As a rule of thumb, those who are close to the Lord have a heart for the needy (regardless of need) – not from pity, but from love and compassion. Not just dropping some money in an offering, but truly meeting them where they are and caring for them.

Any other needs? Over 19% of people in North America had an anxiety disorder last year. 29% of Americans have had depression in their lifetime with 17% currently dealing with it. In North America, 14.1 per 100,000 people commit suicide. In America in 2020, there were 14.4 abortions per 1,000 women ages 15 to 44. The national average divorce rate in the U.S. in 2021 was 2.5 per 1,000 people. Only 28% of people attend religious services (any religion). We have gender identity issues. We can’t even agree if pronouns are a piece of language others get to choose to use about (grammar) or a legal right that represents the core of who we are as people which WE choose for others to use in reference to us (feelings). 1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted). About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.

That just scratches the surface. There are PROBLEMS in the world today. Yahweh does NOT want to leave these problems alone. He does NOT sweep them under the carpet. He does NOT look on them as minor. He is NOT afraid to confront the ‘hard topics’. Yahweh is TRUTH and Yahweh is MERCY and Yahweh is LOVE. He is RIGHTEOUS and does not bend His moral principles in the face of the whims of human culture. What was TRUE ten thousand years ago is STILL TRUE. There is NO turning or shadows in the Lord. “All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change” (James 1:17). “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8).

What was today’s verse again? “But I will most surely heal the wounds of this city and restore it and its people to health. I will show them abundant peace and security.” The Lord is seeking people and communities and cities and regions and nations and continents who will seek after Him. He wants to heal the problems in our communities. He wants to heal the problems in our streets. He wants to heal divisions, bad circumstances, and lack. “The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing” (Psalm 23:1). This is a generalisation of the ongoing experience of having a habitual relationship of Yahweh shepherding our steps.

Steps are EVERYTHING we do and say. What we work at. How we play. How we spend our money. What we champion. Who we care for. Who we support and HOW we support them. The BLESSING on us and the BLESSING we pass onto others. THAT is the Abrahamic covenant that we are part of (birthright as Jews or grafted into as Gentiles – Romans 9:6-8). Abraham was VERY BLESSED and because of that he had a RESPONSIBILITY to bless those around him – which he did. Abraham fought wars for others. Abraham supported the community. Abraham is an example that we can follow.

Because WE have dominion here on this earth (Genesis 1:26-27), God is using US to bless it. He gives to us, we give to others. He supports us, we support others. He changes our lives, we share the Gospel so that He can change the lives of others. It is and always has been about the WHOLE picture. NOTHING missing. NOTHING broken.

When you think of healing, don’t forget that we are to pray that the Lord makes us USEABLE so that we can help bless those around us. We are charged with praying for our leaders (local and national) and those in authority (1 Timothy 2:1–4). We are charged with praying for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18). We are charged with praying that ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that the Lord wills in Heaven comes to pass here on Earth. HIS way.

The Lord wants to heal our communities and our countries and our whole world. One thing at a time. People to people. Forgetting no one. Leaving no one behind or in the cold. Creating, showing, and shining HIS love on this earth. Be faithful in your prayer. Be MORE faithful in your obedience. He WANTS to heal all those around us. Will you let Him? Will you be obedient? Will YOU work WITH Him? It will change the world – spiritually, mentally, and physically. His will here on Earth. It’s worth praying into.

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Genesis 49:10

“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs; the nations will obey him.” ‘To whom it belongs’. The Hebrew word ‘Shiloh’. Final tranquility. Judah would rule (the sceptre not departing) until Messiah comes (who is also a Seed of Judah) whereupon He will take up rulership of all as the true and final king. The supreme ruler of the whole earth. This verse contains all the letters of the Hebrew alphabet except ‘Zayin’ (weapon) and ‘Tzade’ (the Righteous One). When Shiloh comes to take His place as supreme ruler it will not be by arms or force, but by the Holy Spirit of Yahweh. The Holy Spirit descended on Jesus and STAYED there (Luke 3:22). Jesus is FULL of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is a seed of Judah. Jesus HAS kingly authority and will take up His rightful place as supreme ruler of creation when the Holy Spirit moves at the Father’s instigation (Matthew 24:36). Jesus IS Messiah.

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b