Good morning,
Trust our fears or trust His love?
When the Lord of life and love and peace lets the Enemy of our souls roar and rage and threaten us, we can be sure that God knows what he is doing no matter how we feel. God gave us the Bible so that his family would understand the reason for the darkness around us. When God sent his Son Jesus to live with us, John the baptist told his followers, “He (Jesus) has come from above and is greater than anyone else. We are of the earth, and we speak of earthly things, but he has come from heaven and is greater than anyone else.(Jn.3:31) He also said, And anyone who believes in God's Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn't obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God's angry judgment.”(v.36) Does that mean that we are supposed to listen and love and obey Him? Does Jesus owe us something just because we have decided to call ourselves Christians?
Remember when Jesus was talking to his disciples he told them, Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me.(Jn.14:21) Then Jesus promised them, "All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them. Anyone who doesn't love me will not obey me.(vs.23,24) God knew that we could’t do this by ourselves so Jesus promised us, I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth.(Jn.14:16,17) He also promised us, the Holy Spirit–he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.(v.26) But then Jesus tells us, The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him.(v.17) If we call ourselves a christian but are controlled by fear and anger and what will happen next, are we believing God and trusting God and relying on God’s Holy Spirit to control us?
Jesus went on to clarify this when he told them, "I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love.(Jn.15:9) The real issue we are dealing with is the difference between believing our fears or believing and living out God’s love. Again Jesus said, When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father's commandments and remain in his love.(v.10) So what is Jesus promising us? He said, I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!(v.11) At another time Jesus told them, "I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won't have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”(Jn.8:12) Dear Lord, please help us to remember in this battle for our hearts and lives is built on trusting our Father, our Savior and Lord Jesus, and the power you give us from your Holy Spirit.
Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Roy Wisner
