There's a lot going on in the world and a lot available to provoke fear for the future, but I have a question for anyone who might feel themselves tempted to fear - If you truly know God, does He ever change?
“I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed." Malachi 3:6 (NLT)
We stand reinforced in our understanding and belief that He does not change, so...
"The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. I will reward them with a long life and give them my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16 (NLT)
I know that I said that I had "a" question, but I actually have another - do you really, truly love Him?
“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today." Matthew 6:31-34 (NLT)
The bible repeats the phrase "fear not" 365 times (how many days are there in a year?). I'm given to believe that our Creator, knowing our weaknesses and our tendency to be given to fear, made certain to remind those of us who love Him that we have no reason to for it. Throughout scripture (which is a part of the reason to read all of the bible) our God makes the case for those who truly love and belong to Him, to trust Him and "fear not". He does know our weaknesses and that we may at times find ourselves confronted with the very thing that He tells us not to do (fear). That's part of the reason that it's important for us to have fellowship with each other - to lift each other up in Christ and to remind each other of our reason for unwavering confidence (all of scripture) as we continue to meet our God obediently on His terms. For example...
“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind, or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands." Deuteronomy 5:8-10 (NLT)
If we truly love God, we walk through this place surrounded by His perfect love. That doesn't mean that we won't have struggles or hardships, but we do and will have the confidence and comfort that He will honor every word that He's spoken in regard to us. He does not change and He does not lie. He will see us through every circumstance that could come our way. He IS faithful!
If the worst that the world has to offer comes for me and I suffer a physical death, what have I lost but the world's cares, hurts and concerns which would now fail me in my new repose, for I will have gained all of heaven ... and most of all, the presence of my greatest love. I will have no fear. And when that time comes for each of us who truly belong to Him, we'll meet each other there.
Fear not.
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