Fear

I have written this blog since 2009. I have mentioned “fear” a lot. I’m not embarrassed by this. I find myself in good company. Jesus mentioned it so much that it became part of his usual greeting, “Fear not.” It’s equivalent has become a common greeting among believers, “Peace be with you.” We mention fear so often because it is such a huge problem. We have lots of fear. We fear disease, death, destruction, loss of family, loss of income, hell, and loss of salvation. Fear is Satan’s greatest weapon.

If you are saying to yourself, “I’m not fearful.” Consider this, do you worry? Are you anxious? Do you have concerns? Those are just other ways of expressing fear.

The opposite of fear isn’t courage or bravery; it’s peace and security. As much as fear dominates our lives; we truly seek peace and security. This is why I am so adamant about Eternal Security. It’s what Jesus came to give us. It’s not the same as “once saved always saved.” If we are secure in our marriage, it’s not that we think we could never be divorced. We just think it’s highly unlikely. If we are secure in our jobs, we still know we could lose our job. We just don’t worry about it every day. We could not be affective in our marriages or our jobs if we were not secure in them. Security makes me a better husband or employee.

You can’t be an effective insecure Christian. I know there are probably folks running around failing to do good works or to grow in Christ because they figure they are saved so why bother. To be honest I’ve never met any of them. I have met many who are stagnant because they are insecure. Insecurity causes us to focus on our selves and our condition. Insecurity causes us to focus on what we do or don’t do and not on what He did. Once we become secure, we can move on to caring and doing for others, to carrying on the Great Commission.

Security doesn’t mean never fearing or never doubting. I wake up in cold sweats frozen by fearful dreams or thoughts. Security means not being controlled by fear. Jesus told us that others would know we are His by the love we have for each other. That’s also how WE KNOW we are his.

13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus.18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 John 4

 A person secure in marriage knows he is loved in that relationship. A person secure in Christ knows he is loved in that relationship as well. You are loved.  Fear Not. Be Secure. Be Blessed.