Be safe without fear…

While we marvel at the work God is doing in a certain person’s life, a few friends fearfully say, “Oh, she is not out of danger yet.” I don’t understand that. When someone enters the kingdom of God through faith in Jesus Christ, their lives are in His hands. Any ‘danger’ they face is used for good in their lives. Not only that:

God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)

Power, love, and self-control are works of the Holy Spirit. All Christians have the Spirit who takes us from living by our ideas, whims, or fears to Knowing that God wants the best for us. It is a journey, but eventually He shows us that the power to love is real and it changes us from selfish living to people motivated by love. This includes our prayers.

John Piper explains that if our prayers seem unheard, it could be that they have been motivated by selfish reasoning rather than the love of God. He adds that the reason God answers the prayers of those who believe in the name of Jesus and love others like Jesus is that God loves to magnify Jesus.

Godly love is not a feeling. It is action that involves sacrifice. This is why the NT says this about how I should live: 

No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops. Think over what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything. . . . Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work. (2 Timothy 2:4–21)

God wants me to stick to what He says. Fear is not it. I need Holy Spirit power that puts off selfish flesh and live in love and self-control. This means I must:

Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels. And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:23–26)

This is not easy. I read the news and want to hide and not be involved in this messy world. God even tells me to avoid much of what is going on:

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. (2 Timothy 3:1–5)

Instead, I’m to ‘hide’ in God’s Word so I can live in this world as He wants.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16–17)

There is a sense of immediacy to this. “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.” (2 Timothy 4:3–4)

PRAY: Oh dear Lord Jesus, I need not fear, not for myself or for other Christians, even those new to the faith. You give me and all Your children the ability to live for You and You promise: “The Lord will rescue (us) from every evil deed and bring (us) safely into his heavenly kingdom.” This is why I can say, ”To You be the glory forever and ever.” Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)



 

Eternally Safe

 

READ Ezekiel 29–32

The news from Pakistan should be a headliner — a full one-third of the country is underwater. More than 1,000 people have died and “monster monsoons” have swept away homes, crops and bridges causing billions in damages with flash floods. At least half a million people have been displaced as vast areas are cut off from supplies and power.

While some wonder where is God, today’s reading again reminds me that God is not removed from the everyday affairs of the nations. He is not deaf, nor is He absent. He is involved in the affairs of people and nations. Whatever effect climate change may have, God is Creator and Supreme Ruler. He is the ultimate Weatherman and can use anything to accomplish His purposes.

I’ve no insight into what He is doing in Pakistan, but these four chapters are clear that He can do whatever He desires to fulfill His plans, even using godless nations. He comforted Israel as Judah was in exile, living under the rule of Babylon, reminding them that He did not forget His covenant with His people.

After a strong prophecy against Egypt saying this nation would experience a sword brought against them and they would be made “a desolation and a waste” and then “know that I am the Lord,” He also made it clear that He would use another godless nation to destroy Egypt. Then He adds one line for His people to remember and rely on:

“On that day I will cause a horn to spring up for the house of Israel, and I will open your lips among them. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 29:21)

This one line is their hope and points to our hope also. The remainder of this section is all about what God will do to those who have resisted God and abused His people . . . .

Those who support Egypt shall fall, and her proud might shall come down . . . . they shall fall within her by the sword . . . . And they shall be desolated in the midst of desolated countries, and their cities shall be in the midst of cities that are laid waste . . . . I will put an end to the wealth of Egypt, by the hand of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. He and his people with him, the most ruthless of nations, shall be brought in to destroy the land, and they shall draw their swords against Egypt and fill the land with the slain. And I will dry up the Nile and will sell the land into the hand of evildoers; I will bring desolation upon the land and everything in it, by the hand of foreigners . . . . I will destroy the idols . . . . there shall no longer be a prince from the land of Egypt . . . . I am against Pharaoh king of Egypt and will break his arms . . . make the sword fall from his hand. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them through the countries. I will scatter the Egyptians among the nations and disperse them throughout the countries. Then they will know that I am the Lord.” (30:6–26)

The word of the Lord tells how Egypt’s Pharaoh will be humbled and slain, brought down to his true level with all who do not know God. (31:1–18) He considered himself a lion but God shows this mere mortal is without power against the power of God. He would bring him down, “make many peoples appalled “ at him and even tremble for their own lives. His people would be brought to ruin and perish. All the nations around him will experience terror and many will be “slain by the sword.” (Ezekiel 32)

What does it take for people to realize that we are powerless to control much of anything, including the weather? We cannot even control ourselves, never mind those among us who enslave, rape and destroy. No amount of government spending can or has stopped prejudice, hate, and the sin of humanity. No amount of will-power can make a leopard able to change its spots or anyone change their life. Some may reach the status of a pharaoh, even be esteemed like this mortal was worshipped, yet read again what God did to the pharaohs of Egypt. We are powerless to defend ourselves from His wrath and judgment on sin.

Only Jesus Christ can do that — and only Jesus Christ did do that. He took our penalty for sin and died under the weight of God’s wrath. He did that so believers can stand in confidence. No matter what God does to humble the nations, He will protect and take care of His children, either here or in our eternal dwelling place.

The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (2 Timothy 4:18)