There is Freedom (No Fear) in God's Love
John 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. When my youngest son was thirteen, his school class was given an assignment to write their definition of freedom. In his paper my son equated being free to living without fear. And this was understandable knowing three years earlier he was in and out of the hospital for two months where he required blood transfusions six times, a large needle was stuck into his bone for marrow sampling, and multiple skin samples were cut from him. Finally he was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disease that was destroying his kidneys and the only way to stop it was rounds of chemotherapy. I remember looking into his tired eyes as he was going through this medical crisis, but didn't really appreciate his fear until we talked about his paper and his belief that being free meant living without fear. As Christians, it is Jesus self-sacrificing life and death that has set us free from our death sentence. God's Word says, "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed." John 8:36. And if we are "free indeed" shouldn't we be living without fear? The answer is, "Yes...Absolutely!! God's Word says so....1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love. There is no fear when we live in God's love! We see God's character, His self-sacrificing love in the life of Jesus, but how is God's love made real in our lives? He doesn't leave us guessing here either. His Word provides the answer! Romans 8:15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. AND 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. The Holy Spirit is God's answer to living in His self-sacrificing love without fear and yet we hear so little about who He is and His work in us! I look forward to talking with the church family about my observations on life without and with the Holy Spirit! Blessings to you all In Christ through the power of His Spirit! Your family member,
Gary Snyder