Fear No Fear

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

“Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Avenge the children of Israel on the Midianites. Afterward you shall be gathered to your people.” Moses spoke to the people, saying, “Arm men from among you for war, that they may go against Midian, to execute Yahweh’s vengeance on Midian. You shall send one thousand out of every tribe, throughout all the tribes of Israel, to the war.” So there were delivered, out of the thousands of Israel, a thousand from every tribe, twelve thousand armed for war. Moses sent them, one thousand of every tribe, to the war with Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the vessels of the sanctuary and the trumpets for the alarm in his hand.”
(Numbers 31:1-6)

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, 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)

These were the Midianites who had tried to curse the Israelites. Who had sent their women to seduce the Israelite men and get them involved in worshipping idols. They had stood against Adonai and against the wishes of Adonai – clearly communicated to the Midianite king and elders. They plotted a break in faith with Adonai in order to remove the blessing of protection over the Israelites – because God will not protect those who actively move away from Him in disobedience – that’s free choice in action – even though He OFTEN shows them Mercy and extends Grace. This was the Law in action. Righteous judgment for conscious and knowing rebellion against God Himself.

Jesus came to fulfill the Law. To pay the penalty for Sin. To have the wrath and judgment of God for ALL SIN to fall on Himself and suffer the penalty so that the curse was removed. Without the barrier of Sin, there was no reason not to be able to show the fullness of God’s love to the people of the Earth. Judgment was satisfied. This remaining love, then, could embody the Mercy and Grace of God toward ALL humanity. Since Jesus could freely show this love, having drawn the sins of all toward Himself to remove judgment, His disciples were to show this same love. To live in the fulfilled promises of Jeremiah 31:31-32, Ezekiel 36:26, and Ezekiel 37:14 with a NEW nature and NEW spirit which enables disciples of Jesus to love GOD’s Way. To love as HE loves. To be the example all human beings can see of a God who doesn’t condone sin, but offers to cleanse us of it.

Summary

We are meant to be known by our super-human ability to love people like God loves them. Humanity doesn’t love this way. We ONLY can do it because of what JESUS did for us and made available to us. We need to double-down and really invest ourselves in the knowledge of how much Jesus loves us. Only by knowing how much Jesus loves us will we have the ability to reflect it toward others. To take a hard line on sin without judging people. Without condemning them. Without encouraging violence against them. To be the light of Love that will draw them closer to Jesus and His love for them. It is only possible when we embrace Jesus’ loving of us as strongly as He does. We’ll be known for it. Sought out because of it. And examples of it to everyone.