March 5 - Deuteronomy 17 - 20: No Fear

Do not recoil in fear of them...Don't waver in resolve. Don't fear. Don't hesitate. Don't panic....And if there is a man here who is wavering in resolve and afraid?  Let him go home right now so that he doesn't infect his fellows with his timidity and cowardly spirit.  Deuteronomy 20: 1-4, 8

Why is Moses telling the Israelites not to fear?  Because they've been trained and armored well?  Because they know all the answers, the principles and the right things to do?  Because the enemy isn't really as big and bad as they've made him out to be in their minds?  No.

God, your God, is right there with you, fighting with you against your enemies, fighting to win.  (20:4)

I used to think of myself as fairly adventurous, willing to try almost anything.  I'd been in a few scary situations and come out fine. In fact, I did a few reckless things in my youth and lived to tell about them. Is this what God means by not being timid or cowardly?  No, this is all about me, my self-sufficiency, my ability to talk myself out of my nerves.  In fact, I often used (or more accurately, misused)  that favorite "no fear" verse of scripture from 2 Timothy to imply that my power, my love and my self-discipline (or sound mind) could get me through most difficult situations.  What Paul actually says is,

God doesn't want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible.  So don't be embarrassed to speak up for our Master or for me, his prisoner.  Take your share of suffering for the Message along with the rest of us.  We can only keep on going, after all, by the power of God, who first saved us and then called us to this holy work.  We had nothing to do with it.  It was all his idea, a gift prepared for us in Jesus long before we knew anything about it.  2 Timothy 1:7-9 (Msg)

Living without fear, timidity and cowardice has nothing to do with me, but with God and His desire for me to speak up for Christ.  I'm incredibly grateful, because being married, having kids, paying a mortgage, being in church leadership and aging have brought fear to my life and new anxieties that seem to rear up daily.  And they are mostly wrapped around my desire to control and protect the life that I believe is best for me.  So, to live without fear seems to be the opposite of what I'm doing:  give up control (or the delusion of it); look to God's purpose for my life; know that suffering is a part; and depend on the Spirit with everything I've got.  This does not come naturally to me at all.

"Though this fear is natural, it's not right.  We are called to pattern our lives after the Way described in the Bible.  We are not called to fear what following the Way of Jesus may require of us, but that doesn't mean those fears won't crop up.  A life of following Christ requires relinquishing those fears when they do come. It means refusing to let your fears of what others think, your fears of rejection, keep you from pursuing the truth about the Holy Spirit and whatever else God is teaching you and calling you to...

"The truth is that the Spirit of the living God is guaranteed to ask you to go somewhere or do something you wouldn't normally want or choose to do.  The Spirit will lead you to the way of the cross, as He led Jesus to the cross, and that is definitely not  a safe or pretty or comfortable place to be.  The Holy Spirit of God will mold you into the person you were made to be.  This often incredibly painful process strips you of selfishness, pride, and fear."  (Francis Chan, Forgotten God)

"The Lord challenges us to suffer persecutions and to confess him.  He wants those who belong to him to be brave and fearless.  He himself shows how weakness of the flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit...A Christian is fearless." (Tertullian)

God, my God, You are right here with me, fighting my fears with me, fighting to win.  I don't often feel that way or think that way when faced with a situation or person that triggers anxiety and fear.  Thank You for Your Holy Spirit who is love and power and a sound mind in me.