Jesus' love will compel me.
We are told (Isaiah 41:10) Do not look around in fear but look up in faith. Fear did not exist until (Genesis 3:16) sin introduced it to Adam. God has not given us (2 Timothy 1:7) bondage to fear again – God is not the source of fear. We cannot be afraid and trust God at the same time. Doubt is the grandchild and fear is the child of sin. Sin brings fear and if we allow fear to dominate it will cause us to doubt God. Sometimes something will hit us suddenly and unexpectedly and our initial reaction is fear. That is quite natural but what do we do with it? Do we frantically scramble around searching for help from somewhere, anywhere? Or do we determinedly kick fear out and replace it with faith in God, Who is never caught off guard or unaware? If fear pays me a visit it has a very short stay. There is no welcome in me for fear as a resident or an influence. Fear itself is actually the Red Light Stop Sign which warns me to command FAITH to take over. Everything I see around me in this world is changing and decaying – BUT – my (Malachi 3:6) unchanging God lives within me and never leaves me. Whom shall I fear (Psalms 27:1) and of what shall I be afraid? Fear has no hope of survival against my God of the impossible.
As I think – ponder – seek, I am more in love with Jesus every day. I am thankful, grateful, safe and secure because the Almighty Sovereign of the entire universe is also Sovereign in every detail of my life. Jesus was sent into this world to do God’s will and in so doing to reveal the Father. We who are truly born again Christians have been placed in this world to do God’s will by the enabling power of the Holy Spirit and in so doing (Galatians 1:16) to reveal Jesus. Here is a good example and pattern for us. Isaiah saw (Isaiah 6:1-3) His glory and (John 12:41) spoke of Him. We need to think about, meditate on and (Malachi 3:16) speak often of Jesus, Who is (Colossians 3:4) our very life. It comforts me and fills me with wonder that the Transcendent God takes time to listen to our words.
Because of God’s overwhelming goodness to us, we are about what He cares about and so we have concern for others. From God’s Word and through prayer we learn God’s will for us. I want the Lord to make me truly humble, truly holy and truly a worshiper of my God (1 Chronicles 16:29) in the beauty of His holiness.
Jesus said that (Luke 16:27) we are not commanded only to love God but also we are to love our neighbours as we love ourselves. This does not mean to love my neighbour as I once loved my natural self, which always wanted to be indulged and pampered. I can truly respect and love (2 Corinthians 5:17-21) the new creation which God has made me. The new self, the self which has been transformed into the very righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. I am to love my neighbour as I love my new creation self. That quality of love will compel me to tell my neighbour about my Saviour, Whose transforming power can also make my neighbour a new creation in the Lord Jesus Christ. It is tremendous to realize that our neighbours who become new creations will increase the population of heaven and we can have a part in it. Do you and I have any neighbours who think that (Psalms 142:4) no one cares for them and their wellbeing? Who is my neighbour? Anyone who has a need (Luke 10:36-37) of which I am aware.
In each and every day that dawns
New horizons I can see,
Because daily I’m living in Jesus,
And Jesus is living in me.
If we venture all on obedience, we can safely leave all the consequences to God.