Fear No Fear

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

He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (emphasis added)

The trouble with the human psyche is the ego. We are so full of ourselves. So sure that we are capable of accomplishing whatever we need. So slow to admit we need help. So slow to step back and let another move in our place. Often we give up hope before we accept assistance. But assistance was built into the Covenant God made with us. From Abraham to the Ten Commandments, assistance was the whole idea of what WE were to do and how WE were to approach things.

In Genesis 12:1-3 Yahweh made a covenant with Abraham. It was a promise of protection and land to Abraham and his descendants if they followed the path of God. In Genesis 15:4-21, Yahweh ratified the covenant. God confirmed that in spite of the seeming impossibility, Abraham would have children to carry on his line. That the land he stood on would be theirs and that they would enjoy the protection and blessing of Yahweh – if they walked in His ways. Yahweh performed a ceremony that night (vs. 12-17). Normally, both parties partook in the ceremony to show that they both bore responsibility if the other side stepped wrong. Here, the Merciful Good God partook in both parts of the ceremony, taking on Himself the responsibility for everything.

Abraham’s descendants did not always walk in His ways. To make things clearer, the Lord gave them the Law. Something they could understand. So that they would know the nature of the Lord and His will. So they could recognise the sinful nature and disobedience of the heart of humanity and our NEED for a Saviour. The Law teaches us to strive to live a life worthy of that Saviour – though without abiding in Him we cannot achieve it, because it is not US who accomplishes righteousness but JESUS IN US (John 15). The Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17, Deuteronomy 5:6-21) epitomise that Law.

But what do we see in that? We see important guides to HOW to walk with in the Lord’s ways (Proverbs 3:5-6). Not to put other Gods above Him (Matthew 6:33). Not to hold idols in our hearts (Psalm 119:11, Romans 10:9). To keep Him first and foremost (Romans 8:1-39). Not to take Him and His ways so frivolously that we talk the talk, but don’t walk the walk (Matthew 5:37, Romans 12:1-2). To rest in Him, because in Him we find our rest (Matthew 11:28-30, Hebrews 4:9-11). When we abide in Christ (John 15), when we put the Word into our hearts through reading it and hearing it over and over (Proverbs 4:21-23, Deuteronomy 11:18, and Psalm 119:11); THAT is when we find ourselves walking in His ways because His ways become part of who we are. They become the lodestone of our behaviour because our behaviour is informed by our hearts.

We’re told to honour our parents. Not for fun, but because giving honour where honour is due gives us something back: a long time dwelling in the land where God calls us to be. We are to respect the authority that is over us, and respect those whose authority is under us. When we honour our parents, we are actively showing the love of Christ. Remember it doesn’t tell us to honour those who deserve it. It doesn’t say cuddle them every day and live with them always and ever. It says honour them. Period. Honouring them can heal broken relationships. It can help us grow. It can help make all that other stuff possible. But it always starts with the basic truth that we are to honour them. This is the first commandment with a promise attached to it.

We’re told not to murder – and Jesus reminds us we should not even kill or even harbour anger (Matthew 5:21-26, 1 John 3:15). What this verse is implying, is that when we walk in His ways we bring our problems to Him (Philippians 4:6-7, 1 Peter 5:7, Psalm 55:22). When we rest in Him, we have confidence in both what He promises and what He doesn’t. We TRUST Him. Period.

We’re told not to commit adultery. Not just because it is wrong. Not just because it breaks trust and relationships. Not because it is dishonest and selfish. It is also because it is a picture of idolatry in action. The marriage covenant is a picture and type of both the Trinity and our relationship with the Lord. Two people operating as one. Multiple personalities within a singular entity. One not doing without the other. Relying on each other and coming together in ways two people who are co-workers cannot. Intimate fellowship in all ways, right down to the bone. Adultery is putting all that aside. Rebelling against the covenant. Betraying the trust and honesty that has been put in your charge (also ignoring the second commandment which is about more than just PHYSICAL idols). If you are willing to commit the physical, natural adultery, you’re more likely to choose to commit the spiritual. This commandment is a warning to be watchful. To be ready to reject the knock at the door that invites unrighteous behaviour.

We are not to steal. Because the Lord provides for us. That is also the point of the parable in the Gospels (Matthew 6:23-34, Luke 12:22-31). We let fear have a place in our lives over the issues of want and need. It isn’t even funny. We get anxious. We get worried. We get stressed. We get depressed. We get desperate. And when we get desperate, we do things that we wouldn’t normally consider. Once we are weak through worry, we fall to temptation. We fall because we aren’t relying on the Lord for our strength. We aren’t relying on the Lord for our needs. We aren’t confident in Him. If we truly rely on this commandment not to steal, we will be choosing to do the opposite. We will not be tempted to steal when we have confidence in the Lord to give us what we need. When we are satisfied with our position in life – even if we work to improve it – we aren’t looking for get rich quick, easy temporary satisfaction, or greedy impulse. When we rely on the Lord, life is so much better for us. When we rely on the Lord, we don’t want (Psalm 23).

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of TRUTH (John 16:13). If we choose to lie, we are choosing to deny the nature of the Lord Himself. We are saying that we’re okay with being saved, but that we don’t want all the rest of that stuff around. But that isn’t how it works. TRUTH is inseparable from who Yahweh is. He is the God of Truth (Psalm 31:5). A God of truth, fidelity, and faithfulness. Truth is an integral part of all those. He is the True God, the God of Faithfulness, the God of Truth (Isaiah 65:16, Jeremiah 10:10). Jesus confirmed that to us in John 14:6: “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me. Truth flows from the very nature of God. It is impossible for God to lie” (Hebrews 6:18, James 1:17). When WE lie, we are denying God a place in our hearts. We are violating the first three commandments.

In order to follow Jesus, we are to be servants (Mark 9:35, 10:44-45). We are to serve in love (Galatians 5:13, Ephesians 4:12, and 1 John 3:18). This is meant to be our motivation. Humbly yoked to Jesus, serving the Father in spirit and truth, because our service to the Lord is a form of worship to Him (John 4:23-24, Colossians 3:16). Coveting is NOT a proper motivation, but sadly it IS a motivation for way too many people in this world. Coveting begins in the heart. Jesus warns us of how important heart cleaning is: “But the things which proceed out of the mouth come out of the heart, and they defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual sins, thefts, false testimony, and blasphemies. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands doesn’t defile the man”” (Matthew 15:18-20). Coveting flies in the face of the first two commandments. It violates the spirit of the 7th. It violates the spirit of the 6th. If you let it get away from you, it will violate the 8th. And the 9th is often engaged to cover our tracks when we’ve let coveting claim our heart. When we covet we are not relying on the Lord for our needs being met, we’re not taking our problems to Him, we are adulterous in our covenant relationship to Him, we’re letting an idol take His place, we’re altering with a thing of greed instead of keeping Him as the god in our lives. It is a selfish and evil motivator. It is worse than a sexual sin – and we’re warned to flat out run away from those (1 Corinthians 6:18). It is spiritual immorality and it carries a heavy price – as does ALL sin (Romans 6:23).

Can we keep the Law? No. We fail and we fall (Romans 3:23-24). No matter how good our intentions, we pick up bad habits and let sin in (1 John 1:8). But in Jesus, we were made NEW CREATURES (2 Corinthians 5:17). We are not sinful by nature anymore. As born again believers we have Jesus’ righteous Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:21). In HIM we abide. In HIM we can repent and be redeemed (1 John 1:9). Our weakness, HIS strength (Psalm 46:1-3). When we fear, we are turning away from that truth. When we hold to our faith, we are proclaiming our weakness and glorifying Him with that faith for being our strength. When we hold to Him, no fear. When we hold to him, no worry. He meets our needs and we do NOT want. He is our all. He is TRUTH and PEACE and LOVE and everything we need. The Ten Commandments appear to be DO NOTs, but they are also LET ME’s from the Father to us. In love and peace, not fear. We weren’t given a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Psalm 46:1-3

The Lord God Almighty is a VERY PRESENT help in trouble. Trouble at home. Trouble abroad. Trouble in relationships. Trouble in the workplace. Money trouble. Transportation trouble. Church trouble. Government trouble. Court trouble. Tribal trouble. Gang trouble. Poverty trouble. Medical trouble. Gossip trouble. You name the trouble and God is VERY PRESENT. We are NOT forsaken (Deuteronomy 31:8). God is at our side, there to give us correction, wisdom, direction, and the way forward in EVERY situation (Psalm 118:5-6, 1 Corinthians 10:13). Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6). He points the Way to walk. He tells us the Truth. He Lives it with us. At our side (Hebrews 13:5) and the mediator between us and the Father (1 Timothy 2:5). His Spirit provides counsel, direction, correction, and instruction (John 14:26, Nehemiah 9:20). It is when we forget that the Lord is our VERY PRESENT help that we get in trouble. But truly, if we are seeking Him and seeking to build the Word up in our hearts and walking in His ways, then the Lord WILL be at our side and WILL keep our feet from being caught in the snares of the enemy (Proverbs 3:25-26). When we MAKE Him our director, our captain, and our king, He does NOT fail us. He loves us. Let Him direct you from that place of love and KNOW that your good is foremost in His mind, no matter what you see and what is going on around you. You will be safe and secure on a solid rock amidst turmoil and He WILL be VERY PRESENT.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.