Fear No Fear

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

In peace I will both lay myself down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me live in safety.
Psalm 4:8 (emphasis added)

We would all agree that we are not the same people as we were before we were saved. I think we would all agree that there is truth in the words of Jesus. That the things we are told in the New Testament are truthful. My question is when do we get to live like it? When are we going to get permission to walk in the things that are found there? When do we get to move from the Gospels to the book of Acts?

The disciples are a pretty normal group. They all had their good qualities, but they were not extraordinary. Throw a rock in a crowd of people today and you’ll hit someone just like one of the disciples. Ordinary folk. Foolish, loving, simple, thoughtful, petty, kind, unimaginative, adventurous, and the list goes on. Some were devout, but others were not. Some had businesses and careers (successful ones too), and others not so much. They got to experience amazing things, but they weren’t changed overnight. When (from their point of view) tragedy struck they went to pieces. They struggled to understand things. They got a lot wrong. They worked on believing, but they didn’t believe. They never got to knowing it. They had moments where they allowed God to work mightily, but there was always an element of doubt. They had faith, but it was not strengthened. They were an average group of people who had an extraordinary teacher.

The apostles (the twelve as well as the other 71 named apostles in the New Testament) were not a normal group. They were eloquent. Bold. Loving, giving, generous, self-sacrificing, willing to stand alone, supportive, adventurous, stubborn, petty, argumentative, open to change, confident, servants to those around them, and the list goes on. They still had human qualities that were negative, but they were in the minority. More importantly, they didn’t wallow in them but actively looked to better themselves and get past them. To avoid strife as often as it came up. They strengthened their faith. They were open to correction. They were obedient. They missed it here and there, but always worked to make it right. They believed strongly enough that they knew it. There was no element of doubt. No ‘what if this doesn’t work’. They were an average group of people who had become extraordinary.

Same people. Completely different attitudes and behaviours. And I repeat my questions. When do we get to live like it? When are we going to get permission to walk in the things that are found there? Because I see us acting more like the disciples than the apostles. We’re saved, but we are not transformed. Why do we struggle with the same things as the world around us? Why does something happen in the world and we fall apart too? Why do we see people on social media bemoaning their condition, their environment, current events, and crisis, but we are unable to tell which are the Christians and which are not? Shouldn’t we see a stark contrast? We shouldn’t have to check out people’s profile descriptions. We should be able to tell, shouldn’t we? By what they say and what they’re affected by? Am I crazy? Jesus said we were to be like salt (Matthew 5:13-16). Love it or hate it, you notice salt when it’s in food. Jesus said we were to be lights (Luke 11:33-36). Light is noticeable in the darkness. Whether it is a spotlight or a candle. So what happened? Why don’t we walk in this?

Have we forgotten who we are? “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. In the past, you were not a people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9). That says to me that we are not ordinary. We don’t have to be ordinary. We can be different. We can be what the Word says we can be: a royal priesthood, a holy nation. God’s people. That means a lot more than showing up on a Sunday, making inspirational quotes, and telling people we’re going to pray for them. It means we need to be what the Word says we are: “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17). If we are new creations and old things have passed away, we can be different. In every way.

“Don’t be unequally yoked with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? What agreement does Christ have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? What agreement does a temple of God have with idols? For you are a temple of the living God. Even as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their God and they will be my people”” (2 Corinthians 6:14-16). That’s pretty different. We get to be as different as light is from darkness. Knowledge from ignorance. We will be God’s people. That sounds great. But I don’t always feel it, do you? Sometimes I do. We can feel that way all the time, though. It is simple, but it takes a little effort.

“Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, and said, “It was necessary that God’s word should be spoken to you first. Since indeed you thrust it from yourselves, and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For so has the Lord commanded us, saying, ‘I have set you as a light for the Gentiles, that you should bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.’ ” As the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and glorified the word of God. As many as were appointed to eternal life believed. The Lord’s word was spread abroad throughout all the region” (Acts 13:46-49). The Word. Paul and Barnabas preached it, the people heard it, transformation happened, and the Word continued to spread. The Word is what changed the disciples. The Word transforms anything and everything that it comes into contact with. It can start small and it can start like a nuclear explosion. But either way, the Word makes changes. We’re called to apply it on purpose (Romans 8:6-8). To use it to renew our minds (Romans 12:1-2). If you are reading the Word on a daily basis and it isn’t changing you, then you’re reading it like a book and not reading it to meet Jesus. Read it on purpose, looking to hear from the Lord, and you will. The Word promises us that (Matthew 7:7).

What am I saying with all this? Well, we should be different. We should be new. We should be transformed from who we were into new creatures. New people. Not new personalities so that we are totally unrecognised. But personalities with new qualities. A refreshed personality. A positive one, not a negative one. A peaceful one, not a strife-filled one. The kind of person who gets asked a lot ‘what’s your secret?’ Whether it is in person, over time, or just scrolling through your social media presence, people should be able to tell that you are not like the rest. You aren’t affected the same way, you aren’t saying the same things, you’re enjoying all the same fun and good things, but none of the bad. That your fun and enjoyment isn’t tainted by being immoral. That your worldview and opinions on what’s happening aren’t despairing or negative. That you can disagree with policy or politicians without trashing them or treating them badly. That there is a smile in your eyes that doesn’t wipe away, even when you’re not feeling happy. That there is a light that shines our from you showing people that you are not being consumed by what’s around you. That you enjoy peace.

Now, I don’t mention peace just because it is the focus of our verse — though the Lord has brought the two threads together nicely. I mention it because it is a central value of the believer’s experience — or it should be. In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27, Paul gives a list of things that happened to him: “Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils amongst false brothers; in labour and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.” In Philippians 4:5-7, Paul says “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.” Even though all those things happened to Paul, he still promoted an attitude of peace.

Peace is something we all want. We want calm. We want no arguments or strife. We want an environment of rest. The world claims to want that, but then they do everything they can to prevent it. Have you ever heard anyone talk about marriage? Talk about strife. They’re always pitting the couples against each other. It’s always about getting through the fights, navigating the fights, giving in, giving up, learning to survive, etc. What about not fighting? That doesn’t mean you always agree, but why fight? Why decide to get your feelings hurt? Oh, you won’t be happy with everything that comes out of the mouth of your mate, but why give in to strife? Jesus wasn’t happy about everything said to Him. But He didn’t operate from His feelings. He operated from the Father (John 5:19). We aren’t called to be in a marriage of strife. Quite the opposite: “giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; subjecting yourselves to one another in the fear (reverence) of Christ” (Ephesians 5:20-21). If both parties are seeking to serve each other, there are few — if any — opportunities to fight. Lots to disagree and compromise and learn from, but few to fight. If we lived our marriages that way, wouldn’t the world take notice? The world expects the stereotype. Anything less not only gets noticed, but sometimes makes headlines.

Not married or in a serious relationship? No problem. What about a simple one? Anxiety. Anxiety is becoming the number one issue people face on a day to day basis. I’m not talking concern for someone or something. I’m talking about crippling anxiety that prevents you from functioning properly (or at all). It is thought that around one in five people suffer from anxiety. Psychology today views anxiety as a positive thing on the whole. That it is a condition that helps the human mind focus us so that we can make changes to protect ourselves. That it is normal and can be beneficial. That anxiety is there to help us imagine a better future and make changes to bring that future about. BUT they also say that when anxiety becomes oversized, constant, and persistent that it has gone over from a normal thing to a disorder. They link anxiety and depression since the two share many characteristics, and also list environment as a third connection since they believe childhood trauma and parenting practices can leave someone vulnerable to anxiety.

I am not disagreeing with any of that on the face of it. It is solid science based on observation of the natural. But I am not subject to any of that. I am a new creature. A new creation (Ephesians 4:24). If I am new, then I am not subject to the old. I don’t have to operate that way. I don’t have to think that way. I do not have to process my feelings that way. This isn’t denial. This is acknowledging reality. It’s like a vehicle. Imagine you have a convertible and you’re driving along and enjoying the weather. But then it rains. The world wants you to deal with it, survive it, and cope with it. All good things. But the Lord wants you to put the top up. That’s a better thing. Why get wet if you don’t have to? It doesn’t deny the rain, but it protects you. That’s what being a new creature in Christ is all about.

Do a search for the word ‘anxious’ in the bible and most of the hits will be in the New Testament. Almost all of them are Jesus telling us not to be anxious. He never just says ‘Don’t do it.’ He always says it in comparison to other behaviour – usually by saying ‘Do this instead’. Why be anxious when it doesn’t add to your life? (Matthew 6:27). Don’t be anxious about tomorrow, today has enough in it (Matthew 6:34). Don’t be anxious about what to say in a given situation because the Holy Spirit will give you words (Mark 13:11). Martha was anxious about a lot, but Jesus told her that those things weren’t important and only one thing (God) had true importance (Luke 10:41-42). And my favourite is in Luke 12:26. Jesus just got through asking whether or not a person could add to their height, to consider that birds work to get by but aren’t worried about it, and that life is more than food and clothing (Luke 12:22-25). Then he says, “If then you aren’t able to do even the least things, why are you anxious about the rest?” I really enjoy that. Food, clothing, working to survive, and growing to new heights just because you want to are considered “the least things” in the eyes of Jesus. I wouldn’t put growing 18 inches as a ‘least thing’ but that’s perspective for you!

Jesus isn’t saying ‘stop it’ to say stop. He is saying it by pointing out how detrimental anxiety is. The world says it CAN be beneficial, remember? But here is the thing. The human being wasn’t created to curate themselves. We were not meant to run our own lives. We were created and meant to look to Yahweh God for guidance. To say ‘what do you think?’ and then follow the advice. Our choice. His guidance. Simple, really. By accepting anxiety as a force to change ourselves for the better, we are rejecting the guidance of the Lord. If our SELVES are telling us to do something and we do it, we are being SELFISH. We are not being Spirit-led. Mark 13:11 and Matthew 10:19 are talking about when the disciples would be pulled in front of the ruling authorities because of their preaching the gospel. Jesus is telling them when that happens not to worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit will give them words to say — the best example of that is Stephen in Acts chapter 7. But it is a principle we can apply to our whole lives. The Holy Spirit can guide us. Jesus tells us that in John 16:12-15. And it’s true.

Easier said than done, huh? It can seem that way. It’s easy to tell someone not to do something. Without the ‘how’ it isn’t that useful. Jesus tells us how though. He tells us the Holy Spirit will do it in us. If we look to Him instead of our anxiety, we will be told what to do. We can choose to do it or not. With anxiety, we can follow the avoidance pattern and improve ourselves to avoid those feelings. We can also choose to give into them and be incapacitated. Either way is hard and rocky and unpleasant. We can follow the Holy Spirit and improve ourselves as we lean more into Jesus, or we can go it alone. One way is peaceful, the other rocky, hard, and unpleasant. Holy Spirit seems to be the guy to go to. But again… how?

“Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). I know, I know. You’ve heard that one before, right? Well, you’ve heard it because it works. Praise leads to prayer which leads to praise which leads to peace. How often when discussing these things does giving thanks and glorifying God show up? It’s happened three times in the scriptures I’ve referenced and in the verses surrounding them another couple of times. Praising, thanking, and glorifying God is central to this idea of being set apart, not being anxious, and being His people. Because praise prepares our hearts to really go before God (Psalm 100:4).

We go before the Lord because He is the only one who can grant true safety. All other safety is an illusion. It is safety within the law — if everyone obeys it. It is safety granted by arms — but only as long as we have bullets or get our weapons ready first. It is safety in numbers — but only if the numbers are on your side. It is safety granted by declaration of our rights — but all rights are a societal invention and only last as long as society agrees they are a right. Everything is temporary and dependent on action, works, or agreement. Except the Lord. He is our rock and fortress (Psalm 91). He is trustworthy (Numbers 23:19). And He keeps us in His arms (Psalm 121:7-8).

In peace — in shalom — we can lie down and be so peaceful and restful that we can sleep. No worries assailing us. No anxiety keeping us awake. No anxiety preventing us from doing things during the day. Peace. The peace of God. Because in Him we have safety. Real and true safety. Not something dependent on effort or works. Dependent solely on the Lord. As His people, we can rise above the human condition. As His people, we can be extraordinary. We can live as true believers who know we have it, not people who believe that one day we’ll have it. We can shine as lights, be flavourful like salt, and be different. In every way, in every interaction, coming from the place of the Spirit. Our words and actions guided by the Holy Spirit who advises us on all things that we let Him. Who never steers us wrong. Who always wants us to rest in Jesus. Rest in the Word. To have real, lasting, and demonstrable peace.

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Psalm 3

I like fences. They separate things. They give privacy. They help keep my things as mine and your things as yours. Not to be selfish or greedy, but so that I know what is mine to share and what is not mine to have. They aren’t a wall to keep me apart from everyone and hidden. I admit that can have appeal, but that isn’t the point. The point is that if I have people over, we only use my things and not the neighbours. That wouldn’t be polite. Also, if you are in my yard I know that anyone there is someone I can bless with refreshments, entertainment, and companionship. If I walk down the street and start handing food to a stranger in HIS yard, I am going to get odd looks. But fences are also protection. It can keep the trash floating on the street off my property. It can keep wild animals from coming in and eating my flowers. It can keep out unwanted individuals or groups that might seek to harm me or take my stuff without my permission. Our fences can be fallible, but Yahweh God is also a fence and a fence that never fails. He surrounds me and keeps out everything that would harm me. He keeps me safe and secure. He provides a place for refreshment, entertainment, and companionship. He provides a place for me to be blessed and to bless others. Best thing? He is mobile. He comes with me. He’s with me when I talk to that neighbour four doors down. He’s with me when I’m grocery shopping — providing me with all I need. He’s with me when I am travelling and when I’m doing chores. The fence of the Lord is ever-present. Always providing me safety, rest, and security. I would rather be no place else. It doesn’t matter who or what comes against me. It doesn’t matter what circumstances are around me. I am free. I am protected. I am His and He is mine. It is a wonderful thing to realise how much He loves us and how much He protects that which He loves. Rest in Him today. Enjoy His fencing.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.