Fear No Fear

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

But the very hairs of your head are all counted. Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
Luke 12:7 (emphasis added)

‘They don’t care’ is the rallying cry of the world today. It doesn’t matter what issue you are talking about, there is someone to point at – someone in authority or at least the authority to change the situation – and cry that they don’t care. And maybe the pointer is correct. Maybe they don’t care. It’s all about what makes the world go around. What money, power, privilege, morals, greed, or whatever makes things work. Does the government care about us, or only about the power they wield? Do the governments want strong borders, or are there others in the shadows that want to remove all borders? Do we want a moral society or one who does whatever it thinks feels good? Do we agree on what makes basic morals? Do we want human rights? If we’re all just animals evolved from goo, is there even such a thing as human rights? And who wants to abuse them or control us through them or their lack? Whomever all these people are, it is a good bet that they don’t care. Because humans are selfish. Because self is the package the curse comes in. Or at least it is a big part of the curse we’re steeped in.

It all really comes down to value. Who sets it, on what, and who monitors whether it goes up or depreciates. Humans are all about value. We want to say what is valuable and what isn’t. We want human experience to factor into the value of something and what it really means. We want to set the markets and decide what they do. It is all about us. Teachings we think are worth things – whether mathematical or mystical. Whether an object gives good value. Whether something is worth having. They all revolve around what we think of things, who wants them, and how they make us feel. Something everyone has doesn’t have value. Something everyone wants but not everyone has is valuable. So much of our value system is made up. Look at the markets and banks. So much made up money floating around. So little based on real items (whose value we have also artificially created). It’s all smoke and mirrors.

If humans are selfish. If we are running around declaring that this is the value of A and this is the value of B and C has no value, doesn’t that imply that there is a system out there of value? Universal and set value? Because we wouldn’t be so hardcore on declaring something if there wasn’t something behind it. The fire under the smoke that we play with. That’s the real kicker, when you think about it. Human value is based on feelings. Real value is based on truth. Ahhh, you say, but who is to say what is truth? The one who set it in place (Psalm 119:160). The one who made it. The one who knows what it is built on, made up of, and how it works. The creating force. God. Almighty God. Have you noticed God doesn’t argue in His Word? He says that a thing is so, watches humans argue a bit or try out their own thing, and then when they come back He is still standing on what He said in the first place. When dealing with truth, that pattern never alters. God never changes His mind (Proverbs 12:22). He changes His actions based on the interactions He has with humanity, but always in areas of partnership and never in areas of truth.

So what truth is Jesus laying down here? You (all humans) have value. You (all humans) have such value that the very hairs of your head are known to the Lord God. That’s right. The same God who created all of the vast and intricate universe that wows us in space photo after space photo. The same God who designed the creatures and processes of the natural world that make us pause in wonder when scientists release findings, create medicines, treat diseases, showcase natural beauty, and announce new species just discovered. The same God who knows how the microscopic, nano particulate pieces of each cell of your body functions. That God. He knows everything about you. From the hairs on your head to how you dip french fries into iced cream. He knows you. He checks in on you daily. And Jesus is saying for you not to choose to be fearful because God is watching you that closely, with interest, for you and about what you do, because He loves you. How can you be afraid when someone who has made so many marvels declares you to be of interest to Him? Isn’t that comforting?

“Since you have been precious and honoured in my sight, and I have loved you, therefore I will give people in your place, and nations instead of your life” (Isaiah 43:4). “Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day”” (Matthew 12:12). “Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!” (Luke 12:24). “But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). “Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing” (Zephaniah 3:17). Our value to God is not anchored on us. It is anchored on His love for us. Again and again He says that He loves us. And because He loves us, we have value. God made us on purpose (Genesis 1:26). God blessed us (Genesis 1:28). And in Genesis 1:31 “God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.” We are very good. Very. Good. We have value. Intrinsic value. As Sovereign Lord and Creator, Yahweh has the right to judge and make assessments. And His assessment of humanity is that we are certainly good.

I’m not looking at whether you are doing good or bad. Believing or not. Walking in Him or not. I am simply repeating the words of Jesus: you have value to the Almighty Creator God of this entire universe and everything else that exists. Period. He values you. As is. No changes. You’re in His eye and in His heart (Isaiah 43:4). You. And He is smiling on you (Numbers 6:24-26). Because of love. His love. Perfect love. He accepts you because He loves you (1 John 4:9-10). This isn’t about what you are or are not doing, what you should or shouldn’t be doing. This is the hug. The loving, generous hug just because you are and He is and wow, does He love you or what? There is no what. He loves you. Don’t worry about the rest. Rest in the love. His love. For you. You have value to Him. You, like every other thing He created, are GOOD. Certainly good. Surely good. VERY good. Take a moment and let His breath wash over you. You are VERY good.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: John 16:8-28

The Father in heaven loves us. He loves us for us. He made us. He loves us because Jesus, the Anointed One, our Saviour the Christ loves us. And we love Him in return. We believe Jesus came from God. We believe Jesus died for our sins. We believe that Jesus was resurrected again to life by the Father. The Father loves us so much for that. For that belief. That trust in His Word. That simple faith that is the basis of the whole Kingdom. Faith in love. Love in faith. It’s all connected. And it is designed to connect us to the Father. The Righteous One. The Merciful One. The One with Everlasting Love. We couldn’t get there without Jesus. Without His sacrifice and resurrection. Without His righteousness. It’s all part of His plan. We don’t have to do without God. We don’t have to go to outer darkness. He made a plan for us before creation was created. So that we can be in His presence where we can be loved and love Him in return face to face. It’s beautiful. It’s simple. It’s ours if we believe, want, and confess it.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.