No Fear!

No Fear!

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7 KJV

Context:

Paul writes to the young man Timothy, who was just getting to know God more, and reminding him to fan into flame the gift of God that had been given to him. Do I have spiritual mentors, who are able to hold my hand and guide me on this journey of faith? Am I a help to any one, who may be struggling with the challenge of living a holy life, or am I too full of myself to be of any help to anyone else? Can God entrust a life, just one life, into my hands, sure and certain that I can guide that life, under his guidance and direction, to the place where God is glorified? 

This journey will demand a lot from all who seek to undertake it. Nowhere does God promise that the journey will be free from storms, winds and detours. There will be times when it is easier to give up than press on. There will be times when it would seem that God is a bit too quiet for comfort; when you will seek for a sign that God is near and still in charge. Times will come when you will seek an assurance that what you hold is the real deal and not the fake. At those times, the words of today's extract is the message for the season of fear that the devil wants to entrench. 

Message and Response:

What would God have me do? What would he have me know? What steps would have me take, if I am to enjoy all that is made available in Him? First, remember that you must be IN Him to be able to enjoy all that he is and gives. How can I make a demand on resources that do not belong to the country I do not reside in lawfully? It is my residence status that defines my benefits. If I will lay claim to all that today's extract mentions, the secret is in my location. If I can sort that out, God will sort out the benefits that accrue. 

In addition, I must seek the knowledge of all that I am entitled to, and I can only know this through the Word of God. I may lawfully reside in the place I want to claim benefits in, but if I do not know what I am entitled to, what and how can I claim? The Word of God is the key to unlocking all that I seek, and the benefits will only be fully utilised when I know in full what the death and resurrection of Jesus has secured for me.

Of course, you have to give up something for another. It is not possible to hold on to the two at the same time. My human heart cannot take two competing interests at the same time. It is either the Spirit of power, love and a sound mind is operating in me, or it is the spirit of fear that is at work. And of course, the one you feed grows, and when fully grown, defines your eternal reality. 

God does not give fear, even though there is an element of good fear and awe that I must have for this God. God does not seek man's allegiance through fear, but he seeks man to worship him out of a heart of gratitude. When you know the end of the bad fear, you know that God has nothing to do with it. The bad version of fear cripples and limits; the good version sets free. He is a God of love, one who has all power, yet created a man and gave him the power of choice, and a mind of his own. He then makes a case for himself, telling man what he stands to gain if he chooses Him, and respecting man's choice. That is awesome responsibility and grace. I do not want to take such grace for granted. I do not want to reject that grace, because if God is the last defence against hell fire, what chance do I have if I reject him? 

God wants to give all of himself to me. I need to stretch out my hands and take hold of that which God offers. The devil has no free gift, and whatever he offers you for free, he will definitely take something of even greater value away from you. God gives all of himself to us, as well as the life that never ends, and then invites me to come to him. He has done all that is required; the response is left to me. His time of favour is here.