Fear No Fear

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

Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
2 John 1:3 (emphasis added)

Winter is a common gift-giving season for humanity. December 6th, December 24th-26th, the 25th of Kislev (and the seven days that follow), December 31st, January 1st, and January 6th are the most common of the Judeo-Christian countries/traditions although not all of them are based on scripture. But not all gift-giving is human in origin. “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow” (James 1:17).

The world approves of gifts. Naturally, they view them as a function of evolution. That they are a social tool to help people form connections, which is a key of communities. The five main purposes of giving gifts are kindness, strengthening bonds, proving/showing empathy, gratitude, and the hope of reciprocation — which would take the other four and turn them around. When done properly, it creates a caring circle of people invested in each other and the protection of the whole. Thus viola, community is born and civilisation evolves another step.

There is some truth in that, because people frequently go their own way and ignore both God and all of what God says — when they’re not stealing principles for their own benefit. As soon as God is part of the equation, the whole scenario changes. Because we can’t really give a gift to God. What does He NEED from us? Nothing. He requires NOTHING that we can offer in any way. It does not build Him up. It does not strengthen Him. It does not make Him exist or increase His domain. There is nothing we can do or withhold that will benefit Yahweh. When it comes to God, gifting is very one-sided.

The truth that humanity can’t affect God means that humanity is unable to affect ANYTHING at God-scale. Man was given a prohibition and he violated it. When the man violated it, humanity fell. Total rebellion earned total loss. We HAD life. Now we were under the sentence of DEATH. If you have sin, you’re doomed (Romans 6:23a). This was unacceptable to Yahweh. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit got together before creation and founded our salvation. The Father agreed to send the Son. The Son agreed to go. The Holy Spirit agreed to empower Him — as long as He stayed sinless. As a man, Jesus had the same choices in front of Him as Adam had. Jesus succeeded. He used the Word as His weapon and defence. He listened and submitted to the Father. He did ONLY what He said. Period. In EVERY instance. He was perfect. Then He died. Paying the price for OUR sin. Redeeming us. Making a WAY for those who had done and could do NOTHING about it themselves. The free gift of God was eternal life (Romans 6:23b). Total restoration. And it was a GIFT.

“for by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast” (Ephesians 2:8–9). “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only born Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him. He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only born Son of God. This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light, for their works were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God” (John 3:16–21). “Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!” (2 Corinthians 9:15).

That’s about as good a gift as you could get. In fact, there is nothing higher than that when it comes to gift giving. But Yahweh doesn’t stop there. “But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, without any doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed” (James 1:5–6). “He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds† and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, to the work of serving, to the building up of the body of Christ,” (Ephesians 4:11–12). “Now there are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. There are various kinds of workings, but the same God who works all things in all. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of all“ (1 Corinthians 12:4–7).

The Lord doesn’t limit things to spiritual gifts. They are the most important, but God HAS no limits. What He does is make sure we are focused on Him — the One who is our SOURCE. If not, even a good gift can be twisted. No. He wants us to enjoy His gifts. To have them benefit us and not get their hooks into us. Take money. Money isn’t a sin. It isn’t anything but a resource. But the LOVE of money is a sin and the root of much evil. God should be the first, foremost, and most important recipient of our love (Deuteronomy 6:5). That’s why He has us focus on Him. We seek HIM first, before other things come to us (Matthew 6:33). We prosper in natural things like health, money, and possessions AFTER we have a solid foundation on the Lord (3 John 1:2). When we have a good relationship with the Lord? One we maintain no matter what our circumstances? Then the Lord’s imagination and will is the only limit for Him. “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!” (Matthew 7:11).

The Lord’s best gifts though are those things of Himself that He gives us because they do not fade. They do not rust. They cannot be stolen. “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). We like material gifts because we can see them with our eyes and feel them with our fingers. But the spiritual things are those who give us true depth of life. True enjoyment. And joy that cannot fade because they are all based on the Lord who is constant, eternal, and trustworthy (Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8). “The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

Abundant life isn’t about things, but about love. HIS love. From that ALL things come — spiritual and material. “We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love” (1 John 4:16–18). The love of God is the source of everything we enjoy. God IS love. That love gives us things. Once we receive them, that love helps us to turn around and give them to others. THAT is the purpose of the blessing of Abraham. To bless others as we have been blessed.

“Now may he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed for sowing, and increase the fruits of your righteousness, you being enriched in everything for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. For this service of giving that you perform not only makes up for lack among the saints, but abounds also through much giving of thanks to God, seeing that through the proof given by this service, they glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the Good News of Christ and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to all, while they themselves also, with supplication on your behalf, yearn for you by reason of the exceeding grace of God in you” (2 Corinthians 9:10–14). It is God who gives us all sufficiency. Then He uses us to direct that sufficiency to others (2 Corinthians 9:8).

We help each other, bless each other, and do all that He directs. He enables us to do that through the Holy Spirit and Jesus. In JESUS, we have all Grace, all Mercy, and all Peace. They are the perfect gifts. They make life abundant, worthwhile, and a blessing to all around us. Encouraging us to encourage others in the body of Christ. Siblings of a generous Father, making life better for each other in every way that we can (Hebrews 10:24–25). God WITH us. Not love around us while we struggle. WITH US. Resting in Jesus, doing the work of the Father, hand in hand with God during the season of gifting and every day after — throughout eternity. We can truly say that He is our shepherd and because of that, we will NEVER be in WANT (Psalm 23).

Daily Affirmation of God’s Love: Romans 12:11

As eagerly as a child rushing down the stairs to open their presents on a morning of gift-giving, we should be eager to do the work of the Lord. We have been tasked to do work in this creation of His. That’s why He put us here (Genesis 2:8). We should be devoted to it. Painstaking in each task and application of our talents and gifts in order to accomplish what the Lord has put before us. We need to do it in Jesus, abiding in Him in order to succeed — for He does the work and we are nothing without Him (John 15). But we are there to be His representative. As He is doing the work spiritually, we are standing in the right place at the right time physically. It is a partnership ordained in heaven so that nothing is impossible (Matthew 19:26). Our passionate intensity should shine through. Not for OUR glory or OUR accolades. For HIS glory. Jesus on earth did NOTHING but point to His Father. Giving Him credit and worship for each and every act. Fasting and praying to ensure that His flesh stayed under submission to the will of the Father and to ensure He was listening for every word the Father spoke. Eagerly anticipating all moves of the Spirit, we are to do what He puts before us big or small. Pointing to Him as the source of everything. Giving Him credit. Praising His works. Thankful and joyful for each and everything He does for us and for all those around us. Fervent as a child on Christmas morning.

Your Daily Confession of God’s love to YOU:

Today God loves that I _______.