Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the World English Bible, ebible.org, all rights reserved)

Samuel said to the people, “Don’t be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil; yet don’t turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. Don’t turn away to go after vain things which can’t profit or deliver, for they are vain.”
1 Samuel 12:20-21 (emphasis added)

When we stand in front of God – or we know God is coming – we have a tendency to fear. Why? Habit, that’s why. Sinful behaviour and all that. Sin is part of this world. And sin has NO place in the Lord. God is perfect righteousness and that causes fear to stir in those who are not perfect righteousness. Adam and Eve knew God was coming. They hid in the bushes once they had sinned (Genesis 3:8). Hiding themselves in leaves as clothes and then in bushes as camouflage. They remind me of little kids who get clothes with camouflage designs on it and stand in front of bushes believing themselves to melt into the background. I wonder if God was just like the parents of that child. Standing there. Staring right at them. Seeing them clearly and still choosing to say ‘Where are you?’ to make the child feel good.

But we’re sinners by way of a lost nature. Adam wasn’t. He betrayed his nature. When we got saved, our nature was restored. “There is now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” (Romans 8:1). That DOESN’T mean no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus who are managing not to walk according to the flesh. Those who are keeping all of God’s commandments and making sure to observe all the festivals. It means, that everyone — every single person — who is in Christ Jesus — Believers — walk according to the Spirit, so there isn’t any condemnation for them. We don’t have a sinful nature. We have the righteous nature of Jesus. “Jesus said, “The glory which you have given me, I have given to them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and you in me, that they may be perfected into one; that the world may know that you sent me, and loved them, even as you loved me” (John 17:22-23).

God is merciful. Eternally merciful. We were in sin, He forgave. That’s why Jesus went to the cross. To repair the relationship sin broke. But it isn’t a blanket. We can’t do whatever we feel whenever we want. Samuel spoke the words of the Lord and spelt it out. Do not turn away from following the Lord. Serve Him with all your heart. Remember Him in each and every moment so that you can choose to do what makes Him smile. Relying on Jesus for strength and the Holy Spirit for guidance so that we can in Him and by Him do as He did. That is what makes the walk work. Why? “Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.”” (John 11:9-10)

This is a basic physical reality we all see around us every single day. It is also a spiritual reality. When there is light we see and navigate easily. When there is darkness we flounder, stub shins, and demand to know who moved the couch. And Jesus had an answer for that too: “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”” (John 8:12)

When we avoid the light, we stumble and have no guidance. When we rely on the light, we see where we are going. Romans 14:23 tells us that the things we do that aren’t done in faith, are done in sin. When we don’t look to Jesus, walk with Him, talk with Him, seek Him first, we are going to be doing according to our feelings. Our feelings are not real. They are not what we are emoting. They are a sensory input only. Information that this is being experienced by our flesh. They are extremely poor tools of guidance. Our human attitudes are based in the flesh because… well… they’re flesh. But we don’t WALK according to that. We are spirit beings and in Jesus have a perfect spirit — His. We must always examine ourselves and align our attitudes with those of God. To turn not to the left or right (Joshua 1:7-8). Our feelings are happening, but our spirit decides whether they are the information we rely on or the information we acknowledge and bring into alignment with the Word. Our spirit should be telling our mind what to emote in order to handle our feelings.

“My son (or daughter), don’t forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for they will add to your length of days, years of life, and peace. Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart. So you will find favour, and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in Yahweh with all your heart, and don’t lean of your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh, and depart from evil. It will be health to your body, and nourishment to your bones. Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first fruits of all your increase; so your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will overflow with new wine” (Proverbs 3:1-10).

That is basic walking in faith. Faith 101. It always comes down to faith. Trust in Him. Belief that He knows what He is doing. In every way. Every time. Period. Now and forever and always. More than just a word. More than just an aspiration. Reading and studying and thinking about the Word and about the Lord until you are persuaded. Fully and completely persuaded that He is Truth. You’re not believing for something, you know it. That is what active faith is. It isn’t a concept or a process of believing. It is a strengthened reality of knowing what IS because of what God SAYS. It doesn’t come naturally. It is a gift from the Lord. Yahweh gives us Faith and the Grace to use it. He gives us the Word which strengthens our faith and enables us to accomplish belief. To walk in it and follow His commands. And because you KNOW that God is TRUTH and never LIES; because you LOVE Him and know that He LOVES you, you do what He says. As worship. As a gift. As a sacrifice of praise (Hebrews 13:15) from your body (1 Corinthians 6:19-20) given to Him with heart and mind in fullness (Isaiah 56:6).

If He says to do it, do it. If you’re not sure, do it anyway. Obey. Obey. Obey. Not because He is going to fry you. Because He is the High and Glorious God who can be trusted in all things. Honour Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. Love Him. Walk with Him in faith. Pray to Him (Philippians 4:6-7). It seems like foolishness sometimes. It seems like it doesn’t matter. But it all does. It all matters. We’ll see the differences from that too. We will see all the ways in which it changes us. The ways it improves us and our lives. We won’t always see how those things impact others, but they all do. Like ripples in a pond, our actions move and blend with the actions of others, and little by little we touch the whole world. When we do it, it is noisy and violent and everyone gets wet. When the Lord does it, it is gentle but purposeful. It is quiet and life-changing. It has a harmony to it that enables everyone to get what they need. It is beautiful, but often under the surface and unseen. What we need to keep in mind is the obedience. Choosing to do what He wants because we love Him. Doing what He wants because we trust Him.

Is it hard? Not if you’re meditating on the Word and the ways of the Lord (Philippians 4:8-9). Reading it. Thinking on it. When you get up. Before you go to bed. On your lunch break. Just for fun after school or work. Not to the exclusion of all else, but taking all and looking at it through the lens of the Word. Thinking of our motivations and our end results. Thinking before we speak. Thinking before we act. Just a few moments to check in with our faith to see if we are about to step out in it or in spite of it. Faith comes by hearing the Word. That is what strengthens it and deepens it. It gets charged. It gets more real than what you feel.

Get into the Word and mature your faith. Deepen the gift of faith He gives us in order to trust the Lord completely. Trust Him completely, and healing refreshment is your reward – spirit and body. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy, even as your soul prospers (3 John 1:2). Won’t that be awesome? Use the light (Jesus) and walk His path straight to the Father. We only see the step in front of us, but don’t worry. He’ll keep you from stubbing your toe on the way, if you’ll let Him (Psalm 91:9-12).

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Titus 3:3-7

We tend to be attracted (platonically & romantically) to those who treat us well. It isn’t always the case (toxic relationships), but it is a general rule of thumb. We like those who like us. We dislike those who dislike us. Or at least we get sad because we want them to like us. But with God it is different. The Father loved us before we were nice to Him. Before we were doing righteous, good, or decent things. His love for us is NOT dependent on our actions and never has been. While we were foolish, disobedient, deceived, hateful, and serving various lusts and pleasures; HE LOVED US. Before creation, He made a plan with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And they enacted it. They made a way to save us. And they work to save us. All the time. Without rest. Because the overpowering love He has for us manifested in Jesus on earth as a man to die as a sacrifice. Resurrected by the Father to life eternal. And we who believe go with Him hand in hand through that resurrection. On the other side of those purifying waters we get to listen to Him. Obey Him. To make Him smile because we can’t help but do what He wants and likes and enjoys because of our love for Him. Oh sure, if we step wrong He will correct us. This isn’t a band-aid on our behaviour. This is us choosing in every moment to change who we are by growing up in Him. Taking our cross and sacrificing our old selves constantly as we follow in His footsteps. It is on purpose, not automatic, but made simple by His Spirit who resides in us all. That is love. Not an emotion or a from afar longing. But a hands-on, lifting and changing to perfect. A decision to stay no matter what. Not giving up. Not giving in. Staying the course because we decided to love. God loved us. Before we could deserve it. Whether we’re obeying or not. He loves us. His love isn’t dependent on our performance. But His love changes us. Moulds us. Corrects us. Perfects us. It isn’t stagnant, it is purposeful involvement from our side as well as His. He loves us. Period. Always. ALWAYS. Take up your cross and show Him how much you love Him too. He’s there to help because love motivates everything He does and He loves you too much to leave you the way the world wants you.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.