Lens of Faith

This is a series of devotions and meditations on scripture that reject fear. Fear is a spiritual force used by Satan to keep people down. Instead, faith in God is championed. Sin causes fear, but through Jesus, we have a restored nature and no condemnation. We need to walk in the light of Jesus and trust Him. Our actions should align with God's commands and we should rely on His word. Faith is strengthened by hearing the word and deepening our connection with the Lord. We should obey Him out of love and trust. God's love for us is not based on our actions, but His love changes and perfects us. We need to remember that we are precious and valuable to God, and His love is unconditional. Welcome to Fear No Fear. Grace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. May the Holy Spirit embrace you today. This is a series of devotions and meditations on scripture. We reject fear in any and all forms. Fear is a spiritual force, the currency of darkness and ignorance. It's what we inherited when Adam gave up his faith and Satan uses it to keep people down. His only weapon is words. If he can get you believing or looking at words of fear, he's got you. Instead, we champion faith as an allegiance to God, as a belief and trust and loyalty to the Lord God Almighty. We accept the evidence of his word as unvarnished truth, as is, just as it's written. We get close to his perfect love through the word, and perfect love casts out fear. 1 John 4.18 All scripture is taken from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Visit eBible.org 1 Samuel 12.20-21 Samuel said to the people, Don't be afraid. You have indeed done all this evil. Yet don't turn away from following Yahweh, but serve Yahweh with all your heart. Don't turn away to go after vain things which you can't profit or deliver, for they are vain. When we stand in front of God, or we know God is coming, we have a tendency to fear. Why? Habit. That's why. Sinful behavior and all that. Sin is a part of this world, and sin has no place in the Lord. God is perfect righteousness, and that causes fear to stir in those who are not perfect righteousness. Adam and Eve knew God was coming. They hid in the bushes once they had sinned. Genesis 3.8 Hiding themselves in leaves as clothes, and then in bushes as camouflage. They remind me of little kids who get clothes with camouflage designs on it, and stand in front of the bushes, believing themselves to melt into the background. I wonder if God was just like the parents of that child. Standing there, staring right at them, seeing them clearly and still choosing to say, Where are you? to make the child feel good. But we're sinners by way of a lost nature. Adam wasn't. He betrayed his nature. He lost us our nature. When we got saved, our nature was restored. There is now no condemnation to those who were in Christ Jesus, who don't walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8.1 That doesn't mean no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus who were managing not to walk according to the flesh. Those who were keeping all of God's commandments, and making sure to observe all the festivals. It means that everyone, every single person who was in Christ Jesus, believers, walk according to the Spirit, so there isn't any condemnation for them. Because we don't have a sinful nature. We have the righteous nature of Jesus. We have Jesus' Spirit. Jesus said, John 17.22-23 God is merciful. Eternally merciful. We were in sin. He forgave. That's why Jesus went to the cross. To repair the relationship broken by sin. But it isn't a blanket. We can't do whatever we feel whenever we want. Samuel spoke the words of the Lord and spelt it out. Do not turn away from following the Lord. Serve Him with all your heart. Remember Him in each and every moment so that you can choose to do what makes Him smile. Relying on Jesus for strength and the Holy Spirit for guidance so that we can in Him and by Him do as He did. This is what makes the walk work. Why? Jesus answered, Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble because they see the light of this world. But those who walk at night stumble because the light is not in them. John 11.9-10 This is a basic physical reality we see around us every single day. It's also a spiritual reality. When there's light we see and navigate easily. When there's darkness we flounder, stub shins, and demand to know who moves the couch. And Jesus had an answer for that too. Again Jesus spoke to them saying, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. John 8.12 Which is kind of confirmed by the book of Genesis because God called light into existence the first day but the sun, moon, and stars on the fourth. So who was providing the light between those four days? I am the light of the world, said Jesus. When we avoid the light we stumble and we have no guidance. When we rely on the light we see where we are going. Romans 14.23 tells us the things that we do that aren't done in faith are done in sin. When we don't look to Jesus, walk with Him, talk with Him, seek Him first, we're going to be doing according to our feelings. They're powerful but our feelings aren't real. They are not what we are emoting. They are sensory input only. Information that this is being experienced by our flesh. So what do we do? They are extremely poor tools of guidance. Our human attitudes are based in the flesh because, well, they're flesh. But we don't walk according to that. We are spirit beings and in Jesus we have a perfect spirit. His. We must always examine ourselves and align our attitudes with those of God to not turn to the left or the right. Joshua 1.7-8 Our feelings are happening but our spirit decides whether they are the information we rely on or the information we acknowledge and bring into alignment with the Word. Our spirit should be telling our mind what to emote in order to handle our feelings. My son or daughter, don't forget my teaching but let your heart keep my commandments for they will add to your length of days, years of life, and peace. Don't let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart so you will find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man. Trust in Yahweh with all your heart and don't lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. Don't be wise in your own eyes. Fear Yahweh and depart from evil. It will be health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor Yahweh with your substance, with the first few roots of all your increase so your barns will be filled with plenty and your vats will overflow with new wine. Proverbs 3.1-10 This is basic walking in faith. Faith 101, if you will. It always comes down to faith. Trust in Him. Believe that He knows what He is doing in every way, every time, period, now and forever and always. More than just a word, more than just an aspiration. Reading and studying and thinking about the Word and about the Lord until you are persuaded, fully and completely persuaded that He is truth. You're not believing for something, you know it. That is what active faith is. It isn't a concept or a process of believing. It is a strengthened reality of knowing what is because of what God says. It doesn't come naturally. It is a gift from the Lord. Yahweh gives us faith and the grace to use it. He gives us the Word which strengthens our faith and enables us to accomplish belief. To walk in it. Follow His commands. And because you know that God is truth and never lies, because you love Him and you know that He loves you, you do what He says. As a worship, as a gift, as a sacrifice of praise. Hebrews 13.15 From your body. 1 Corinthians 6.19-20 Given to him with heart and mind in fullness. Isaiah 56.6 If He says to do it, do it. If you're not sure, do it anyway. Obey, obey, obey. Not because He's going to fry you. Because He's the high and glorious God who can be trusted in all things. Honor Him. Worship Him. Praise Him. Obey Him. Trust Him. Love Him. Walk with Him in faith. Pray to Him. Philippians 4.6-7 It seems like foolishness sometimes. It seems like it doesn't matter. But it all does. It all matters. And we'll see the differences from that too. We'll see all the ways in which it changes us. The ways in which it improves us in our lives. The way it affects the things around us. We won't always see how those things impact others. But they all do. Like little ripples in a pond. Our actions move and blend with the actions of others. And little by little we touch the whole world. When we do it, it is noisy and violent and everyone gets wet. When the Lord does it, it's gentle but purposeful. It is quiet and life-changing. It has a harmony to it that enables everyone to get what they need. It is beautiful but it's often under the surface and unseen. What we need to keep in mind is the obedience. Choosing to do what He wants because we love Him. Doing what He wants because we trust Him. Doing it when He says because we believe Him. Is it hard? Well, not if you're meditating on the Word and the ways of the Lord. Philippians 4, 8-9. Reading it, thinking on it, when you get up, before you go to bed, on your lunch break. Just for fun after school or work. Not to the exclusion of all else. But taking all and looking at it through the lens of the Word. Thinking of our motivations and our end results. Thinking before we speak. Thinking before we act. Thinking before we press play. Just a few moments to check in with our faith. To see if we're about to step out in it or in spite of it. Faith comes by hearing the Word. Hearing the Word. That is what strengthens it and deepens it. It gets charged. It gets more real than what you feel. We're spiritual beings. We need spiritual food. You need to energize your body, your spiritual body, your spirit person. That which is in you that communes with the Lord. We need to get into the Word and mature our faith. Deepen the gift of faith He gives us in order to trust the Lord completely. Trust Him completely and healing and refreshment is your reward. Spirit and body. Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be healthy even as your soul prospers. 3 John 1-2 Won't that be awesome? We need to stay in the blessing place. We need to work on our soul connection with the Lord. Through our spirits which are already connected with the Lord. Renewed in Him. We need to stay focused. If we don't, accidents will happen. But our focus is not on the accidents. Our focus is on the Lord. And if our focus is on the Lord, then when we have an accident, when we slip, when we fall, when we go astray, He is right there to correct us. And if we're open to being corrected, then He can lead us through repentance. True repentance. The part where we're truly sorry for what we've done. Turn around. Go in the other direction. And go out of our way not to do it again. I am the bread of life is what Jesus said. I am the light of the world. I am the good shepherd. So He feeds us. He gives us light to see where we're going. And He is the good shepherd that makes sure that we lie down in the green pasture. That we sit by the cool water. That we are protected and have what we need. Use the light, Jesus. And walk His path straight to the Father. We only see the step in front of us. But don't worry. He'll keep you from stepping your toe on the way. From stumbling. From barking your shin. If you'll let Him. Psalm 91, 9-12. Our daily affirmation of God's love is Titus 3, 3-7. We tend to be attracted, platonically and romantically, to those who treat us well. It isn't always the case. Toxic relationships. But it is a general rule of thumb. We like those who like us. We dislike those who dislike us. Or at least we get sad because we want them to like us. But with God, it's different. The Father loved us before we were nice to Him. Before we were doing righteous, good or decent things. His love for us is not dependent on our actions. And never has been. While we were foolish, disobedient, deceived, hateful and serving various lusts and pleasures. He loved us. Before creation, He made a plan with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Not only to provide us with salvation. But to provide us a way that we could walk in it. And they enacted it. They made that way to save us. And they work to save us. All the time, without rest. Because the overpowering love He has for us. Manifested in Jesus on earth as a man to die as a sacrifice. Resurrected by the Father to life eternal. And we who believe go with Him hand in hand through that resurrection. On the other side of those purifying waters. We get to listen to Him. To worship Him. To obey Him. To make Him smile. Because we can't help but do what He wants. And likes. And enjoys. Because of our love for Him. Oh sure, if we step wrong, He will correct us. This isn't a band-aid on our behavior. This is us choosing at every moment to change who we are by growing up in Him. Because He's corrected us. He's told us where we've gone wrong. And He's walked us around. Taking us to where we should be. This is us taking our cross. And sacrificing our old selves constantly. Constantly as we follow in His footsteps. It is on purpose. Not automatic. But made simple by His Spirit who resides in us all. That is love. Not an emotion. Or a from-afar longing. But a hands-on lifting and changing to perfect. A decision to stay no matter what. Not giving up. Not giving in. Staying the course because we decided to love. Now God loved us. He does the same thing. Before we could deserve it. Whether we're obeying or not. He loves us. His love isn't dependent on our performance. But His love changes us. Molds us. Corrects us. Perfects us. And it isn't stagnant. It is purposeful involvement from our side as well as His. He loves us. Period. Always. Always. Take up your cross. And show Him how much you love Him too. He is there to help. Because love motivates everything He does. And He loves you too much to leave you the way the world wants you. As we close. Remember that you have birth. You are precious. And valuable. Declare this. Today, God loves that I, now you, fill in the blank. Was it a meal you made? A smile you gave? Did you get out of bed? Read? Put on socks? There's no wrong answers here. There is no end to God's love. And no end to the things about you that He loves each and every day. Pick one. And remember, the Lord loves you. Just because you're you. 1 John 4, 9-10 tells us, By this, God's love was revealed in us. That God has sent His only born Son into the world. That we might live through Him. And this is love. Not that we loved God. But that He loved us. And sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. His perfect love turned away God's wrath because of sin. And it casts out our fear too. See verses 18 and 19. We love because He first loved us. He just loves us. Can't get enough of us. And that is wonderful. See you next time.