Fear No Fear

(All scripture from Lexham English Bible, Copyright 2012 Logos Bible Software)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

What great reminders we get to walk in. What goodness we can see. “Surely I believe that I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living.” (Psalm 27:13). “in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, because he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). “then you shall hear in heaven and forgive the sin of your servants and your people Israel, for you will teach them the good way in which they should go, and you will give rain upon your land which you have given to your people as an inheritance” (1 Kings 8:36). Sin can cause drought. But Adonai, in His GOODNESS sends it on the wicked and the just alike. He gives rain to bless our ground. To keep it from being a wasteland. To keep this world from turning into a cosmic Brillo pad. And yes, the drought can be spiritual AND it can be a physical one. Science only seeks to explain what we observe. Adonai functions at a level beyond our observing.

“For from the creation of the world, his invisible attributes, both his eternal power and deity, are discerned clearly, being understood in the things created, so that they are without excuse” (Romans 1:20). Adonai isn’t hiding. He’s revealing Himself to the world on a constant basis. They’re choosing not to see it. We can focus on so much negative. On self-serving views of the world. How does THIS affect ME. But we can also sit back and look in wonder at the world around us. Human and not. How often is there really disaster coming at us in life? Now how often do we have moments of goodness? Remember ALL good things come from Adonai (James 1:17). I’m talking objectively good with no hooks, pain, or thorns. Not things WE have decided are good, but are actually bad for us. ALL of them are from Adonai. He NEVER gives ANYTHING but GOOD GIFTS (Matthew 7:11).

We experience this mostly through our spiritual eyes AFTER recognizing it with our physical eyes. We see how good His goodness really is once we’re connected to Jesus. But even without that we have the ability to perceive His goodness in the world around us. He designed it that way. He uses His GOODNESS to draw us, not His judgment. Jesus was lifted up to draw all sin to Himself so that none was leftover for us (John 12:32). No judgment on us is left. Correction is ever-present because WE keep drifting. But no JUDGMENT. That’s on Jesus. There is nothing blocking our way to seeing His goodness, realizing that He exists, and that He rewards those who seek Him – and then choosing to seek Him because His goodness is all around us (Hebrews 11:6). Adonai does that through His goodness (John 3:16-18).

Ruach HaKodesh is kind of the Father’s goodness cheerleader. Give Him a G- etc. He goes through life with us, pointing out the good things. Over and over and over. He helps us look at things from His point of view, not ours. Positively, not negatively. Word-based, not our thinking based. It is like stepping out of black and white Kansas into the Technicolor dreamland of 1939 Oz. It’s THAT much of a difference. He helps us see just HOW good life is. Just how amazing. Just how much variety and splendour and sparkly bits there are. This is how we are meant to live life. This is why we can see goodness everywhere. It is part of His character, and it is a Fruit we can engage in our own lives. To act GOOD toward people. To say GOOD things that encourage. To think GOOD thoughts (Philippians 4:8). To reinforce our love for Him by seeing, through His goodness, how deeply and truly that He loves us. To turn around and show that, by example, to the world around us. To inhabit what Jesus owned. To be KNOWN as good people. His people. And have others want to get in on the covenant too!

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Romans 8:28

“And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose” This is one of those classic verses that everyone knows, but knows wrong in many cases. All things DO work together, but only for believers with two characteristics. First, those who love Adonai. If you don’t really love Him, all things won’t really work together for good. If you truly love Him, know His character and humbly submit to Him, things will truly work together for good (with the 2nd thing active as well). Not OUR good. Not HIS good. FOR GOOD period. Objectively. That means WE might not like what happens, but we KNOW it won’t damage us and will be for the GOOD. Paul and almost all of the Twelve, and MANY other apostles died for the Gospel message. They didn’t WANT to go, necessarily. I’m sure they would have picked a few different methods of discarding their meat suit. But they did it. Didn’t complain. Because it was for GOOD. Think of the witness it has been. Think of the difference it made. Objectively good. What’s the second thing? For those called according to HIS purpose. If you haven’t been called and answered the call and motivated by fulfilling HIS purpose, all things don’t work for good. You can’t hear the call and reject the call and have everything work for good. Jonah was in rebellion against Adonai. He was despising Adonai. It didn’t work for good. Not until he repented and got back under the umbrella of obedience. Not until he was in the spot where he was responding to the call according to Adonai’s purpose. It’s a great lesson. When we are in the will of Adonai (in alignment with the Word), doing what we’ve been called to do (Ruach HaKodesh speaks to us about that all the time if we’d just listen), and loving Adonai (we love by obedience and investigation of His character), then ALL things work to good. His good. Objective good. Good that makes a difference and brings Him glory so that others can see it, crave it, and move to get it for themselves. And He LETS us be a part of that process! What a GOOD God!

Your Daily Confession of Elohim’s Goodness:

I taste and see that Yahweh is good; I am blessed because I take refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8