Fear No Fear

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

“‘I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! Thus, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am about to vomit you out of my mouth!“

Revelation 3:15-16

I am not a fan of dinner parties. It isn’t the food. It isn’t the eating with other people. It’s the SOCIAL aspect of it. That invisible ladder of what might offend mixed with status. Who are the ‘important’ people? Don’t talk about education because Bob gets triggered. Don’t talk about that last vote City Counsel took because Joan is on the committee that protested. There’s always something. I find the pressure to perform, not offend, and yet still be all smiles and cheer undesirable. It isn’t that I can’t do it. Rather, I don’t ENJOY it. So I avoid them in order to avoid spending an evening doing something I don’t like. Of course the other side of that coin is that my opportunities to interact with a wider group of people is therefore limited. There is a range of experiences that we get in social situations and we take that risk in order to get the benefit of fellowship.

These risks existed in the times of the early church as well. They’ve existed as long as people have existed. Fellowship was perfect before the fall, but afterward was fraught with pitfalls and problems. In Jesus’ day, there were two main ways to greet guests (depending on where you lived). You could be greeted with snow-cooled water to refresh your throat. You could be greeted with warmed wine to soothe your throat. Both were acceptable. Neither was superior to the other. But something lukewarm? It showed insult. The host didn’t care about your needs. Or you as a person. It was objectionable. Good for nothing but to be spit out. It wasn’t fellowship. It was a slap in the face. It would have been better to be left outside knocking than brought in and insulted with poor fellowship.

We seem to default to insulting without even meaning to. We do it because we don’t want to reject something that is an impediment to fellowship with Adonai. Adonai has been clear from the beginning. Light and darkness don’t mix. Darkness is NOT NECESSARY. Only LIGHT is necessary. If we abide in light, study light, and know the character of light then we automatically understand darkness – it will be anything that isn’t light. When we know who Adonai IS, we know who we do NOT want to be: anything else. Our journey is becoming more and more like Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). Jesus does the work (Philippians 1:6), but we must cooperate with Him (1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 6:1). Part of that cooperation is extending to OTHER BELIEVERS what Jesus extends to us: fellowship. “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who belong to the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10). “A new commandment I give to you: that you love one another—just as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples—if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35). “Do nothing according to selfish ambition or according to empty conceit, but in humility considering one another better than yourselves, each of you not looking out for your own interests, but also each of you for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4).

When we supply cold refreshing water or warm invigorating wine, we are seeking to be a BLESSING to the person we are serving. We are trying to make their lives better – even in a small and simple way. In a way that barely costs us anything. A mild inconvenience. Yet so often we choose to be self-centred. So often it is about how WE are treated and how WE are dealt with and what WE are offered. Jesus knows that’s important. He didn’t go around wanting to seeking to be treated like garbage. But He only once spoke up about it (Luke 7:36-49) and then only to defend a woman’s godly actions, giving an important lesson in hospitality and love. In the same way, we are to be a service to others. Thinking of them more than we think of ourselves. Not to be doormats, but to be servants. To be blessers. To lift each other up even when we seem to be forgotten. It’s not that they are more important. It’s not that we don’t deserve the same treatment. It’s that we all need to do it to all others – especially fellow believers – and that sometimes that is a sacrifice.

And guess what? When we lean into Ruach HaKodesh to learn how to be serving others, to know what to say or do in each individual circumstance we find ourselves, we are taken care of too. Sometimes by other believers, other human beings. But ALWAYS by Adonai. He sends angels to minister to us (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43; Hebrews 1:14). Ruach HaKodesh Himself is THE comforter (John 14:26). Adonai provides ALL comfort to us (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). If we will walk in love, we are ALWAYS taken care of. It doesn’t matter if we are loving with cold water or warm wine. When we show respect to others, when we bless others, when we are of service to others in love, then we will truly be the blessing that we are called to be. And that is something that is ALWAYS needed in this world.

Daily Affirmation of the Goodness of Elohim: Philippians 2:14-16

“Do all things without grumbling and disputing, in order that you may become blameless and innocent, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine as stars in the world, holding fast to the word of life, for a source of pride to me in the day of Christ, that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.” When we grumble and complain it pours water on the fire that is trying to shine out of us. When we refuse to grumble or dispute with each other, leaving strife behind us, we are refreshing. Like children playing happily. Helping each other without thoughts of reward. It’s easy to go the other way. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to strife. How quickly childish smiles turn to frowns and sharp words. Yet just as easily they swing the other way again. Children don’t hold grudges like adults do. Children make friends easily. And they support each other thoroughly. This is a gift that we have in Jesus. The ability to become as children to each other again. Supporting. Not taking offense. Not trying to pull each other down, but without stigma or judgment being friends to each other. Quick to forgive when there is a fault. Eager to set things right. This is not consistently possible in ourselves. It is something we can consistently walk in through Jesus. What a great gift. What a wonderful resetting of interactions. One body in Jesus. One unit. One family in 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