Fear No Fear

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

But I only commanded them this word, saying, ‘Obey my voice, and I will be to you God, and you will be to me people, and you must walk in all of the way that I command you, so that it goes well with you.’

Jeremiah 7:23

Idolatry was the problem. They just wouldn’t go exclusive. They weren’t ready to focus on merging their lives together with Yahweh. They weren’t comfortable with an official title and were shutting Adonai down mid-conversation. Every time. They were okay being exclusive in the beginning, but then got a little jumpy when they realised Adonai wanted a relationship that went deeper with a focus on merging their lives under His guidance. They wanted to dial it back to just ‘dating’. Seeing other people. Doing all the things they wanted to do with all the idols they wanted to do it with – basing those wants on what they saw at work in the lives of the people and nations worshipping the idols. They were no longer interested in Adonai’s TRUTH (THE objective Truth) and were very into what they could perceive with their natural senses. They had no problem dabbling with Adonai, but they weren’t interested in more. They were sharing space (Jerusalem, Judah, Israel), but every time the conversation got serious they tried to divert it into small talk and awkward pauses. They were trying to situationship Adonai.

Adonai doesn’t do situationships, friends with benefits, shelving, casual hookups, living together, dating, exclusive dating, platonic, casual, codependent, open, toxic, polyamorous, nesting, long-distance, cohabitation, common-law, or living apart together. He ONLY does monogamous marriage relationships. That’s it. A relationship is a commitment to be with each other. It is marked by a commitment toward a future together. It is a growing emotional intimacy with each other. You’re able to open up to each other and share your thoughts, ideas, feelings, emotions, and plans. It is learning to live together, entwined, with neither dominating the other with dictatorial control. It is a cooperative partnership for the nurturing benefit of both parties. This is what Adonai wants with us. That is one of the purposes behind marriage. So that we have an example of the kind of relationship we should have with Adonai. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for her; in order that he might sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of water by the word; in order that he might present to himself the church glorious, not having a spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she may be holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27).

As soon as we answered the Father’s call (John 6:44) and got saved (Romans 10:9), we were redeemed and transformed into Jesus’ Bride (2 Corinthians 11:2). It is what Jesus is eagerly looking forward to. “Let us rejoice and be glad and give him the glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come, and his bride has prepared herself. And it has been granted to her that she be dressed in bright, clean fine linen (for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints). And he said to me, “Write: Blessed are those who are invited to the banquet of the wedding celebration of the Lamb!” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”” (Revelation 19:7-9). This is who we are. This is the relationship we have with Him. And this is where we are going. Ruach HaKodesh is helping us get there.

Ruach HaKodesh is our reminder, our counsellor, our guide, our word-giver, our leader, our constant communicator, and the check in our soul signifying the need for correction. He is all these things (and more). It is how we keep our relationship with Adonai in the right place: He advises and we listen, then obey. That’s how it works. We HAVE to make the choice to DO the things He tells us. We HAVE to make the choice to BELIEVE the things He tells us. We HAVE to make the choice to TRUST JESUS every time He tells us of an opportunity to trust. If we do, we’ll always be in the right place, at the right time, with the right people, doing the right things, and being Blessed as only He can bless (Ephesians 1:3; Galatians 5:22-23). When we DON’T listen and when we lean into our own understanding is when we have issues (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Our flesh wants easy street. When humanity fell, our desire to work left us. We have to retrain ourselves (Romans 12:2) to the reality that Adonai WANTS us to WORK (Genesis 2:15; Colossians 3:23; Psalm 90:17; Proverbs 18:9) – but not TOIL. Because our flesh has no motivation, we need to motivate our hearts and minds on our own. The Word helps. Ruach HaKodesh helps, but the decision is OURS. Relationships are work NOT because they are hard, but because we have to discipline ourselves not to be selfish. Our flesh is selfish. We need to have and keep the principles of Adonai before our eyes and constantly taken into our minds to our hearts in order to succeed. It is a conscious choice to do it and maintain it. We can be humble and submitted by not giving into our trained-in selfishness. Listening to Ruach HaKodesh, we can go another way. When we go that other way, we’ll get the benefits of real relationship with Adonai instead of being obsessed with trying to make it work without making it work. That’s the way of divorce. Which, when dealing with Adonai, is NO JOKE.

Lean into the counsellor. Let Him guide your actions. Let His desires become your desires. Let His Word reveal to you the inner workings of Adonai’s mind and will. Listen to Ruach HaKodesh’s commentary on it. He wrote it just for us. As THE manual for our divine marriage. Let Jesus BE your bridegroom. BE His Bride. Work the way Ruach HaKodesh says you should work, and you’ll never toil AND you will have a GOOD marriage to the Lamb. Everyone will see it and you’ll be able to the witness we are all called to be (Matthew 5:14-16).

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: 2 Corinthians 6:1

“Now because we are fellow workers, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain.” We are fellow workers with each other, but we are ALSO fellow workers with Adonai (Matthew 19:26). We are meant to cooperate with Adonai. To find out what He wants to happen and then do what He says about it. We are never trying to get our will done. We are always submitting to Him in humble, submitted love, and following His will. Making Him smile with our willingness to be obedient. To worship Him with our actions and attitude, not just words and songs. We can do this because He gives us the GRACE to do this. We don’t earn it. We don’t deserve it. It is ALL about HIS grace given TO US. He GIVES us what we need. He makes us a success in Him. Because we love Him. 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