Fear Not

Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a person fear, so love is not made perfect in the person who fears.

– 1 John 4:18

It’s said that the admonition Fear Not appears in the Bible 365 times — one for every day of the year. But that assurance doesn’t inoculate Christ-followers from all anxiety and trepidation. For one reason or another, even seasoned Believers might be afraid to say yes to God. 

Why is that? First, we too often think of our Lord as a cosmic consultant, who offers well-intentioned suggestions rather than the all-knowing Creator who made us, loves us, and wants only the best for us. But saying no to God is perhaps the most basic form of sin. And mankind has been doing that since the first pages of Genesis with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.

Let’s also consider that saying no and playing it safe is a basic human instinct. Fleeing from danger (real or perceived) is logical when we consider our innate desire for self-preservation. Likewise, we might resist God when he calls us to do something that’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. After all, taking that first step can be awkward, difficult — and sometimes scary.

Perhaps selfishness is the primary reason so many of us fear saying yes to God. Agreeing with God often means we’re saying no to us. But when we turn our back on God, we must prepare for spiritual turmoil. God knows what He wants and how He wants to do it. That’s why we shouldn’t be surprised when we find ourselves in a much worse situation after our refusal. As the saying goes, sometimes we must feel the heat before we can see the light.

The good news is that God loved you and me before we loved Him. And since we’re Believers, He’s secured us in Christ. That means we don’t have to let fear govern our relationship with Him … or our relationships with others. 

With this in mind, let’s surrender our anxiety and fears, step out in faith, and serve as His hands and feet in our neighborhoods, the community, and the world. Jesus puts it this way in Matthew 5:16:

“Let your light shine like that in the sight of men. Let them see the good things you do and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Identity Theft

See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are! The world does not know us, because it did not know him.

– 1 John 3:1

Identity theft is a growing crime involving the illicit use of personally identifiable information — like credit card numbers and Social Security details — for financial or personal gain. A recent annual Javelin Strategy & Research study revealed that criminals stole about $43 billion from U.S. consumers and impacted more than 16 million people. What’s more, over 70% of identity theft victims experienced some form of digital account takeover, including their online banking and social media accounts.

The damage from each incident can take thousands of dollars and several years to repair. But believe it or not, there’s another kind of identity theft that’s much more serious. It’s one that robs its victims of the abundant life they should develop and enjoy as Christ-followers.

How does this happen? Far too many people unknowingly assume a false identity through the negative messages they receive early in life. A common example is a parent telling their child that “they’ll never amount to anything” or that they need to set low expectations for their career or other critical life milestones. Over and over, children hear that they’re “just not smart enough” or “don’t have what it takes to make it.” And repeated early and often enough, these fictions can become self-fulfilling.

How do we take back our rightful identities? It’s a challenge that calls for a spiritual reality check. First, let’s look back at our past and identify and examine the negative messages we received early in life. Then think about who gave us these messages. Can we honestly say that these painful “observations” were true? The real truth is that we all have God-given talents and abilities. And our Creator knows each of us by name!

Whether it’s committed by a cyber-criminal or a sibling, identity theft of any kind is both destructive and debilitating. But here’s the good news: Knowing that we’re children of God gives us a settled identity that frees us from constantly trying to prove ourselves. And with our selfhood revealed, we’re free to love others actively — and approach our real Father with confidence.

Liberty or Death

Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

– 1 John 5:5

Americans enjoy countless rights and privileges protected through federal, state, and local laws. And the First Amendment of the United States Constitution even guarantees our freedom to worship God as we see fit. But if we look at things through Jesus’ perspective, no one (of any nationality) has any real freedom. The truth is that we’re all slaves!

Regardless of what’s written in our Bill of Rights or President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, everyone without exception is a slave to someone or something. They might not have literal chains around their wrists and ankles. But as Christ puts it so bluntly:

“I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.”

This type of sin represents bondage to the world’s values, and it comes in many forms. It might be slavery to money and possessions, pleasure, fame, career — or even religion. But whatever its form, it boils down to substituting false, man-made gods for the One and Only True Creator.

Christ-followers like you and me are also slaves. The big difference, however, is that we willingly choose to give up the temporary things of this world for the true freedom gained from an eternal relationship with the Savior. And as our love for Him grows, our obedience becomes the natural expression of that love and the way we resist the competing loves of the world.

“Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey,” writes the apostle Paul, “whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness?”

Paul’s question reveals that our choice is one of liberty or death: following Jesus or following sin.

Is this a difficult decision? Let’s remember that our earthly possessions aren’t really our own, and we certainly can't expect them to last. We can lose our jobs unexpectedly through a layoff, and our homes and property can be ruined through a natural or man-made disaster. Serious health issues can arise at any time. And of course, the mortality rate for everyone is 100%.

The fact is that one day we WILL lose it all in one way or another. And unfortunately, most people will choose to do it through their slavery to sin. But there’s a far better and more satisfying choice: bondage to a very kind master through acceptance of Jesus’ generous offer of eternal life.

"Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever," Christ assures us. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed."

 

Love Like Jesus

The one who gives life appeared! We saw it happen, and we are witnesses to what we have seen. Now we are telling you about this eternal life that was with the Father and appeared to us.

– 1 John 1:2

God is love.

We find this remarkable, three-word declaration in the New Testament book of 1 John. And it’s the good news that the world needs. But a quick check of the headlines reveals that society is looking for love in all the wrong places. Rather than embracing their Creator for comfort, wisdom, and security, most people choose to follow the false gods of money, entertainment, materialism, and pleasure — to name just a few.

God’s response is to reach out in love to them by using Christ-followers like you and me. Jesus calls us the light of the world. And that means we’re to illuminate faith, hope, and action so that people see our good works and glorify God. The implications for Believers are great because we’re called to be beacons of truth amidst the bleakness of the mundane. And to succeed in this mission, we must understand and convey God’s wonderful plan for his creation. However, the world doesn’t really care about how much we know. It just wants to know how much we care. 

The takeaway is that we must love like Jesus. But where do we begin?

We can start by sharing God’s love through character, which means bringing sincerity and hope to every interaction. Through community, we can bring unity to every relationship. And with communication (listening and speaking), we can show that we care enough to engage people where they are — and all while sharing the Good News of Christ in both word and deed:

“Little children, let us love, not in word or speech,” the apostle John explains, “but in truth and action.”

God's love brings us into real fellowship with Him and with his people. But we can’t continue that fellowship by pretending that we're perfect. Instead, it’s up to you and me as Christ-followers to walk honestly in the light. As Jesus encouraged his disciples through Matthew 5:16:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

That’s how we’ll love like Jesus.

Overcoming the Inevitable

“He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”

– Luke 24:6-7

Why do so many people worry about dying? 

For those who aren’t Christ-followers, death represents the inevitable and the unknown. It’s a gaping, black hole. And who knows what’s at the bottom of the pit — or who’s on the other side? 

That’s not reassuring. But here’s some good news: If you’ve put your faith in Jesus as your Savior, you have nothing to fear from death. In fact, dying is simply the transition between our relatively brief existence on Earth and an eternity of joy with our Creator. All our troubles, tears, and sorrows will be things of the past. That’s something to anticipate rather than fear!

How is this possible? Because mankind is helpless to follow their Creator's perfect law, God did so himself in the form of a man (Jesus). He willingly accepted death on a Roman cross in the place of sinners like you and me. Then, Christ proved he was God-in-the-flesh by rising to life in accordance with Old Testament prophesies written centuries earlier. The huge stone that had sealed Jesus’ grave was rolled away, and the tomb was empty:

“I am the living one! I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever.” Jesus proclaims in Revelation 1:18. “I have authority over death and the world of the dead.”

One day, death will take you. But if you’ve put your faith in Jesus, death can’t keep you. It’s through the resurrection that he’s already defeated the grave: 

“I am the resurrection and the life,” the Savior announces through John’s gospel. “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?"

The resurrection confirms everything Jesus claimed — and all the while launching his followers into mission. Likewise, it’s why we can believe Christ’s promises and have confidence in our eternal future. Because he conquered death, every Believer will overcome the inevitable.

Taking One for the Team

Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 

– Luke 23:34

Taking one for the team means sacrificing for the good of the many.

It's an idiom that originates from baseball, where a weak hitter lets himself be struck by a pitch so the next batter has a chance at the plate. In the business world, a highly paid executive might take one for the team by accepting a pay cut so their employees can get a raise. And yet another example is someone who volunteers to babysit their neighbor’s twin 2-year-olds so the beleaguered parents can enjoy a rare night out.

Jesus’ crucifixion to pay for your sins and mine is the ultimate example of taking one for the team. Since mankind always falls short of God’s standards of perfection, Christ was willing to cover the exorbitant price by accepting the punishment we all so rightly deserve. It's thanks to his sacrifice that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

There are also situations where Believers must take one for the team. For example, it’s in Genesis that we read about the origins of the Jewish people through God’s promise of a son to the patriarch Abraham:

“I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky,” the Lord declared, “and as the sand on the seashore.”

After years of fervent prayer, Abraham's wife Sarah finally became pregnant and gave birth to Isaac, even though the couple was very old. They were thrilled and grateful for their long-awaited child. But soon came God's unexpected call:

"Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah," he told Abraham. "Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about."

It was a shocking demand that made no sense to Abraham because God would never ask for something so precious. (Or would he?) Even so, Abraham obeyed God in faith, took Isaac to Moriah, and built a sacrificial altar. But just as he raised his knife to slay Isaac, one of God's angels called out:

"Don't hurt the boy or harm him in any way! Now I know that you truly obey God, because you were willing to offer him your only son."

Abraham proved his devotion to his Creator, and his descendants indeed spread across the earth. One of his ancestors was Jesus Christ, who 2,000 years later would also prove his devotion by purchasing our salvation on the cross through his sacrificial love and forgiveness. He took one for the team.

Hot Pursuit

Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

– Luke 19: 9-10

When asked by one of the Pharisees — a strict religious sect — to name the greatest of God’s laws, Jesus astounded his audience by the simplicity and clarity of his response:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment,” Jesus said. “And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."

Christ’s declaration reminds us that love is an action word. In Luke’s gospel we find the story of the Prodigal Son, where a loving father welcomes back his wayward — and totally undeserving — child with open arms. Let’s also consider Jesus’ parable of the shepherd, who searched tirelessly for a single missing sheep. When he finally found it, he returned it triumphantly to the flock. Christ also told his disciples about a man who sold all his possessions to buy a field. But it wasn’t just any plot of land. Instead, it was one that held buried treasure. And while the cost to buy the field was staggering, the man did whatever it took to gain the prize.

These parables underscore the fact that Jesus pursues those who are far from God. After all, God loves the world so much that he gave his only Son (Jesus) so that those who believe in him will have eternal life. God willingly let Christ suffer and die in our place to pay for our many sins — past, present, and future. 

The result for every Believer will be an eternity of peace and joy with our Creator. And it all starts the moment we stop running away from God … and start putting our faith in Jesus.