Fear No Fear

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

As a father pities his children, so Yahweh pities those who fear him.

Psalm 103:13

Today’s words are not always the same as yesteryear’s words. Merriam-Webster defines pity as ‘sympathetic sorrow for one suffering, distressed, or unhappy’. Or the ability to FEEL pity. But the word we know as pity did NOT start as that. In Hebrew the word is ‘racham’ (raw-kham’). Racham means to have compassion on; to love; to find, to have, to obtain, or to show mercy to. It is a VERY different meaning. Adonai doesn’t have sympathetic sorrow like a father does. Adonai LOVES us. Adonai showers us with MERCY. Adonai has compassion on us like a father has on his children. This is a LOVE verse JUST as powerful as John 3:16-18.

We know from Jesus that Adonai looks on us like a Father does his children. Jesus said Adonai meets our needs as a father does (Luke 11:11-13). Jesus said that we come to the father like children do (Matthew 18:3). Jesus said children ALWAYS have access to the Kingdom (Matthew 19:14). The Word tells us that Adonai corrects us like a father corrects his children (Proverbs 3:12; Hebrews 12:7-11). The Word tells us that those who are abiding in Jesus, living in Jesus’ covenant with the Father, having been resurrected to life in Jesus, they have been adopted into the family of Adonai as children (Ephesians 1:5). We are Adonai’s kids (1 John 2:28-3:1). Adonai LOVES us AS HIS CHILDREN. Adonai LOVES us JUST LIKE JESUS. That’s something to be thankful for!

There is a CONDITION here. Adonai LOVES the whole world and everyone in it, both the wicked and the righteous (1 John 4:10). But Adonai ACTS IN LOVE toward those who trust Him. Who revere Him. “I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently shall find me” (Proverbs 8:17). To revere the Lord is to despise evil. To actively turn from it at EVERY opportunity that we have in word, thought, and action. That means we avoid evil; avoid pride; avoid an arrogant attitude; and also a vile, corrupt, and perverse mouth (Proverbs 8:13). When we actively do that, we begin to see how things REALLY are (Proverbs 9:10). But that’s hard, you say. Yes, it is. That’s why Adonai treats us like a loving father treats his children. “The Lord is not delaying the promise, as some consider slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not want any to perish, but all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). His loyal love is eternally toward us. We can rejoice that He has mercy. That He IS merciful. That we are in His GRACE. And that when we choose wrong, we have a way back!

I found this quote on www.whitbyschool.org: ‘Children need to feel boundaries because that provides them with security and safety, which are the foundation for emotional and cognitive learning. When children feel safe, they are able to direct their energy into engaging and exploring the world around them. If those boundaries aren’t in place, that child’s energy goes instead towards negative testing behaviors.’ That is the WORLD saying that. How much MORE should WE AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS embrace it. There are MANY ways to discipline – some negative and some positive. We can be ‘normal’ with it and we can be FIRM with it. But disciple in some form is NEEDED to properly develop as children. Spiritual correction (discipline) is NEEDED to properly develop as Adonai’s children and WE SHOULD BE THANKFUL FOR IT. “He who loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates rebuke is stupid” (Proverbs 12:1).

HOW does Adonai correct His children? It isn’t with sickness, floods, disasters, and terrors. “All scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, in order that the person of God may be competent, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). WHO corrects us? Ruach HaKodesh (John 14:26). If we won’t listen to Him, He might send a fellow believer – in LOVE – to echo what He has already said (1 Thessalonians 5:11). That’s AWESOME! That’s proof of GRACE and evidence we are not under JUDGMENT. In the Old Covenant, prophets were sent to WARN people of what was coming. In the New Covenant, Ruach HaKodesh WARNS people of WHERE WE ARE HEADED. There is a HUGE difference there. We are ON HIS PATH. If we get OFF we’ll have problems. His WORD keeps us on the path (Psalm 119:105). Ruach HaKodesh warns us when we’re getting it wrong. When we’re heading into the weeds. When our attitudes are in danger of helping us to make a wrong choice. He is there to be CONSULTED. To keep us in the CENTRE of His WILL. That is a MAJOR blessing!

When we obey Him, He proves His love for us. When we obey Him, he DEMONSTRATES His love to us. When we DISOBEY Him, He CANNOT demonstrate His love to us. Not because He isn’t able, but because He justly restricts His behaviour to those who love Him – as demonstrated by obedience (John 14:15) – in order to motivate us to live the way that HELPS us instead of the way that KILLS us (John 10:10). He has INFINITE patience with us, His children, but sooner or later if we walk in destructive behaviour we will destroy ourselves. That’s just common sense. He warns us about it. He corrects us. If we will RECEIVE that correction JOYFULLY, we will experience the massive benefits of it. He corrects us because He loves us. We accept the correction because we love Him.

“For this is the love of God: that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome, because everyone who is fathered by God conquers the world” (1 John 5:3-4). That sounds like something to be VERY grateful for. That sounds like something to EMBRACE. That sounds like something to be THANKFUL for. And you know what? It IS. Amen.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Matthew 11:30

“For my yoke is easy to carry and my burden is light.” Does our flesh like to be told what to do? NO. Do we like boundaries and borders and restrictions? NO. Are they horrible, hurtful things that keep us from good, enjoyable, and beneficial living? ABSOLUTELY NOT! The benefits are so easy to see, it’s obvious. The love He shows us when we obey – because we are in a place where we will accept it and not kick against it – is so spectacular that it is peaceful. The rest and relief from toil, from fighting to make things work, from exhaustive ourselves just trying to keep our heads above water, is PALPABLE. It is SIMPLE to let Him take control. It is SIMPLE to let Him show us where to walk, where to work, and where to live. It is SIMPLE to obey. It can be difficult to break old thinking, but it isn’t burdensome. It is an EASY thing to carry because it doesn’t HURT. There are no pins and needles. There are no hooks or barbs. It is DESIGNED to BENEFIT and not BURDEN. He designed it that way. To help. To bring peace. To bring satisfaction. 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