Fear No Fear

“For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:15, MEV). Jesus loves us enough to be an example to us. Not just to challenge us to live our lives serving one another, but also as an example of what we can be throughout all of our lives (1 Peter 2:21-25). He doesn’t do this so that we’ll moan and groan about being ‘poor sinners’. He doesn’t do it so that we will despair for being unable to compare to Him. He does it to show us what we can be in Him when we let Him lift us up (James 4:10). It is NEVER about what WE are. It is ALWAYS about what we are IN HIM. On our own we can’t do anything, really (John 15:5). Not anything of lasting value. We NEED God. We really do. And once we are saved, we’re no longer sinners. Now we are in Him. We are His righteousness. He is living through us and we are living through Him. And it would be that way forever, IF we would stay there! Our struggle is not against a sinful nature. Our struggle is in our minds and our CHOOSING to humble ourselves and obey Him OR being selfish and doing what WE want to do. What WE think is right. What WE believe is the way to do it. Leaning on OUR understanding, instead of LISTENING to Him and aligning ourselves to His point of view. It all comes down to whether we see ourselves as independent agents or as servants. When Jesus taught about the washing of the feet, He was showing us a whole way of living. A way of thinking. A way of choosing to view ourselves. He was picking the identity of a servant – no matter what He was in reality. The Son of the Living God washed their feet like He was a common servant. He did it by choice. He did it in love. He did it because serving others is godly and better than trying to set yourself up to receive glory. When we extend that lesson from simple service to a mindset of service to God, to bringing Him glory, THAT is where the fight begins. Fighting against the thinking and habits we’ve spent a lifetime learning from the world. Tearing down those strongholds with the Word and God’s point of view. Aligning ourselves with Him and humbling ourselves before Him. Choosing to be servants because Jesus showed us how. Jesus showed us how to show our love for God.