Fear No Fear

(All scripture from the NET, netbible.org, all rights reserved)

Tell me, O you whom my heart loves, where do you pasture your sheep? Where do you rest your sheep during the midday heat? Tell me lest I wander around beside the flocks of your companions!
Song of Songs 1:7 (emphasis added)

There was a cult of prostitutes that earned their living working the shepherd fields. The woman of this Song is desperate to know where her Beloved is so that when she seeks him, she can go right to where he is. So that she doesn’t have to search among the other shepherds. So that she isn’t mistaken for a prostitute. So misunderstandings about who she is don’t happen. Aren’t we, as the Bride of Messiah, meant to be the same? So in love that we want to only go to Messiah? So that we don’t get caught up in prostituting our hearts? So misunderstandings don’t happen? Aren’t we supposed to be IN LOVE? “Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). It’s all about love. We should be known for it. We should be seen as loving. There should be a difference to who we are. Not only because of how we treat each other.

I’m a sucker for a good romance story. Especially manga and anime (Although it is increasingly hard to find ones I’m willing to read/watch. Very few don’t get physical or have character designs/situations meant to titillate. Not what I am looking for.). The characters always NOTICE each other first. Then they interact. Slowly at first – sometimes with comedy, sometimes drama, sometimes sweetness – but with increasing regularity. Eventually their feelings dawn on themselves. Hijinks ensue about will they/won’t they confess. Usually, it culminates in confession of mutual feelings. When it goes well, there is a shine to their faces. A change to how they carry themselves. Suddenly they are DIFFERENT. And other people notice.

We are supposed to be that way. In love. With Jesus. After all, we ARE meant to be together. “For your husband is the one who made you—the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name. He is your Protector, the Holy One of Israel. He is called “God of the entire earth. Indeed, the Lord will call you back like a wife who has been abandoned and suffers from depression, like a young wife when she has been rejected,” says your God” (Isaiah 54:5-6). “Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her to sanctify her by cleansing her with the washing of the water by the word, so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless” (Ephesians 5:25-27) “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy, because I promised you in marriage to one husband, to present you as a pure virgin to Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:2). We are the Bride of Messiah Jesus. Clothed in Righteousness for His sake (2 Corinthians 5:21). This is NOT an arranged marriage. This is a passionate love that was so destined that the Father literally will move Heaven and Earth to bring about (Revelation 19:7-9).

How does this passionate love come to be? We know He loved us first (1 John 4:19). We know that love has guided all His decisions and steps (John 3:16-18). We know that love IS His nature: “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7-8). Have you ever been in love? Isn’t there something about their presence that soothes? That recharges and reinvigorates us? They become the first person you want to see in the morning. And the last person to talk to at night. They become part and parcel of your world. Life is dim when they aren’t around. Everything is sunshine when they are. When was the last time you craved hearing Adonai? Not to get a problem solved. Not to hear the verse you should stand on. Not for guidance. Not for assurance. When was the last time you craved hearing His voice just because it was His voice? How is your love affair with Adonai going?

This is not to diminish Adonai Elohim. This isn’t a Netflix and Chill situation. This is PURE love. This is RIGHTEOUS love. But all our closest relationships (marriage & family) are a type and shadow of how serious we are to be with our relationship with Him. Would ANY counsellor ANYWHERE suggest you take your marriage for granted? Of course not. When we ignore our spouses, take them for granted, turn them into background material, we sign the death knell of our passion. We turn the extraordinary into drab. Drab can barely manage the day, much less be the intimate connection necessary to be true helpmeets. We were meant to be such intimate and connected partners that our mission could NOT be completed without each other. Neither in a submissive or a subordinate position. So equal and joined, that Yahweh only had ONE name for them. “He created them male and female; when they were created, he blessed them and named them “humankind” (or in Hebrew, “and named them ‘adam”)” (Genesis 5:2). Connected. Together. Two parts of one whole. Meant to cooperate on such a fundamental level that they couldn’t really be told apart. THIS is how we are to be with Adonai. “Jesus looked at them and replied, “This is impossible for mere humans, but for God all things are possible.”” (Matthew 19:26).

First thing in the morning. “Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer” (Psalm 5:3). Last thing at night. “I look for you during the night; my spirit within me seeks you at dawn, for when your judgments come upon the earth, those who live in the world learn about justice” (Isaiah 26:9). Working together, now and forever. “We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building” (1 Corinthians 3:9). This is how we should be. We need to take the time to heal our relationship with Adonai. Self-Reflection and communication with Ruach HaKodesh is the place to start. He is our helper and guide. Our teacher and corrector. He can get us on the right track. Rekindle intimacy. It is about an EMOTIONAL and MENTAL connection. The Word helps us with that (Romans 12:2). Be patient. Rome wasn’t built in a day. Relationships don’t just ‘happen’. Reinvest in your relationship with Adonai. Plan times to pray, worship, and listen. Plan times to talk to Him (not pray, but converse). Nurture your love for Him. His love for you NEVER EVER changes, so when we get serious it gets easier and easier to connect to Him (James 4:8; Jeremiah 29:12-14).

Take the time to put some love into your relationship with Adonai. Let love heal it and grow it. It is THE connection from which everything else develops. Humbly submit to His point of view and let Him show you the depth of His love (Ephesians 3:16-19).

Daily Affirmation Jesus IS Messiah: Daniel 7:13-14

“I was watching in the night visions, and with the clouds of the sky, one like a son of man was approaching. He went up to the Ancient of Days and was escorted before him. To him was given ruling authority, honor, and sovereignty. All peoples, nations, and language groups were serving him. His authority is eternal and will not pass away. His kingdom will not be destroyed.” Messiah would have an everlasting dominion. When He would come as Suffering Servant, it would be temporary. A payment of a price. But when He returned as Victorious King, it would NEVER END. Victory forevermore. “Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.”” (Luke 1:31-33). “Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven saying: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.”” (Revelation 11:15). Prophesied on Earth and proclaimed in Heaven. Jesus is the King of Forever. Jesus IS Messiah!

Your Daily Confession of Jesus/Yeshua’s Identity:

Yeshua is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Matthew 16:16b