Fear No Fear

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

But now Yahweh who created you, Jacob, and he who formed you, Israel, says: “Don’t be afraid, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by your name. You are mine.
Isaiah 43:1 (emphasis added)

Society likes to say we are enlightened. That we are ‘woke’. That we acknowledge each other’s feelings, their ‘truth’, and that we let everyone have their own space where they can do anything they want — provided it isn’t evil in the sense of harming the innocent or the non-consensual or forcing anyone to conform to a behaviour they don’t agree with. Society likes to think that to be very knowledgeable or aware frees you from ignorance. Reason and provable facts of the natural world are king. That is all good to a certain extent, but there are a few minor problems. Truth isn’t individual. It simply IS. Truth is the truth no matter whether you agree with it or disagree with it. It exists in and of itself. The natural world isn’t the highest form of reality. Right and wrong don’t rest on how we feel, but on a universal moral law that exists whether we agree with it, acknowledge it, or even know of it.

I’m sure that you can see the issue humans have. Already there are those that do not agree with my words. In fact, I am sure some of them are labelling me. Bigot. Phobic. Nut. It happens everywhere, not just with people like me. Humans can’t agree on anything beyond a small circle of few people. Even then, there will be other groups believing something else. And everyone says that they know what the correct behaviour is. What your children should be raised believing. What society should permit. Who society should punish for not letting people do what they want. It’s a muddle. What do you do when everyone knows what the ‘truth’ is and no one can agree on what it is or how to implement it? It gets confusing. It gets messy. But beyond all that is simplicity.

God — Father, First Begotten Son, Holy Spirit — created us all. Each and every one of us. He formed us. Made us exactly what He wanted us to be — regardless of how we feel about it. Regardless of physical environmental factors that scientifically may present a specific way. He held the blueprint and followed it. He knew we would face a world of chaos and raging opinions. He had a plan. He followed it. Before the foundation of the world, Jesus was determined to be our redeemer (Hebrews 9:12-15). To preserve our free will (James 1:13-16). He was determined to stand in our place, take our punishment, carry our sins, and pay our price (1 Corinthians 11:23-27). He washed us clean, made us new creations, and gave us His Spirit of Righteousness (1 Corinthians 1:18-25). Through Him, by Grace through Faith, we have access to heaven (Philippians 3:10). To the Father. To the One Living God. And He is reaching out to us saying, ‘Do not be afraid.’

He knows our name. Each and every one of us. He knows the number of each individual hair on your head — pluck one and hold it up. He knows which number it is (Matthew 10:26-31). Does it make rational sense that a God who created this vast and intricate universe would care about the lives of humans on one planet and more so about any single life among billions that infest that planet? No, it doesn’t. Does it make sense that God would seek us out of love for us? No, it doesn’t. Does it make sense that He would choose to give us free will even unto the point of rejecting Him? No, it doesn’t. Does it make sense for a sovereign God to give us authority and dominion on the planet and limit Himself by respecting that dominion even when we ignore it, fumble with it, or abuse it — even to the point of refusing to act without a person (that HE MADE) to give Him permission to act? No, it doesn’t. But that’s how it is.

You are important. You are so important and worthy and valuable that He knows your name. Your given name, your nicknames, the pet names your loved one use for you, the secret names you have never told anyone you’ve called yourself, and even the names you use on social media. Even your burner email. He knows your name and calls you. He claims you. You belong to Him in a way that you belong to no one and nothing else. You are the friend that He made creation for. The one He waits for in the cool of the day and the quiet of the night. You are the voice He eagerly waits to hear calling. You are the spirit He longs to hold. To cradle. To smile with. He wants to be that for you. He created you to be that.

We don’t have to accept this. We can reject it. But He won’t stop calling your name. He won’t stop meeting with you. Whispering to you what He would like to do if you’ll let Him — in His way, in His time, against all reason and explanation. Anytime you think you’re unworthy or not important enough for Jesus to bother with, read this verse. Each and every one of us is sought after by God. The Lord Jesus is calling all of us. The Holy Spirit stands beside us from the inside of us. Each of us. Every human who has a spirit. Jesus is there whether we believe or not, live well or sin, reject Him or accept Him, male or female, gender fluid or gender standard, straight or gay, ignorant or reasonable, trans or binary, religious or not — every single label and title and position that we as people can come up with and decide to embrace. What we are, what we feel we are, and how we think and feel life should be DOESN’T COME INTO IT. Whether we are correct or whether we are removing ourselves from the natural order DOESN’T COME INTO IT. Whether you believe what I am saying or you are violently opposed to the idea DOESN’T COME INTO IT. God is there beside you. He is with you. He is CALLING TO YOU.

Whether you want to accept Him or do what He wants you to or whether you accept what He has for you, He is there anyway. Whether you agree with the order of things He says should be. Whether you are politicised or neutral. Whether you are convinced He doesn’t exist or not. He is there anyway. Because He formed you. Because He created you. He died for you. He was resurrected to life for you. He ascended to heaven for you. He sits at the right hand of the Father for you. He gives the presence of the Holy Spirit for you. Because He redeemed you. Because He paid the price for you. Because He calls you by name. Because you are His. Because He loves you. Because you are worth loving. He loves you. He loves you. Nothing anyone does will change that. Ever. He loves you. He knows your name and He loves you. Will it hurt so much to love Him back? To open the door to His knock and let Him in? All He wants is good things for you. If you have never done it, do it today. Do it now. Confess this from your heart:

Lord Jesus, today I have heard your word. Create in me a new beginning. I declare that you are my Lord, you are my Saviour, you are my King. I declare that the power of sin, Satan, hell, and the grave is broken over my life. I give You permission to remove from me anything and everything that will or could hinder me from the destiny You have spoken over me. From today and forever, I declare that I am a child of God. In the Name of Jesus, I pray.

We believe in our hearts and we declare with our mouths. That is how salvation works (Romans 10:9–11). Now we start the journey of restoration in Him (1 Peter 5:10). Because we can TRUST the Lord, I declare by the power that raised Christ from the dead (Romans 6:10–11), that the power of sin, Satan, Hell, and the grave is broken over your life (1 Corinthians 11:23–26). From today until forever, I declare that you belong to Jesus. I call you bonafide recipients of the Life of God. You go from glory to glory (2 Corinthians 3:18) and grace to grace. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen and Amen. Now we walk the Way He lays before us. Now we are free. Our shame is broken. Our chains are broken. We are Healed and Whole and His. Forever.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: John 15:1-13

The Father loved us before He told anyone about us. As soon as He told Jesus, Jesus loved us too. And what is the proof? He died for us. We give to those we love. We care for them. We fight for them. Any parent will tell you they would die for their child. There is nothing greater than giving your life for another. Soldiers do it because they love their country. Parents do it because they love their children. Jesus did it because He loves us. God decided on it, so that we could be saved from sin, before sin was even a thing, before we ever stepped wrong, because He loved us. The Lord loves us more than anything else. Accept it. Be loved. You’re worth loving.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.