Fearsome Love - Psalm 111:10 & 1 John 4:15-18

 This is my attempt at the impossible - at least I think it's impossible.  Throughout His-story we see that people have tried again and again to put words to the infinite, immeasurable, amazing love that God has for us, and what that means for our lives as Christians.  This post is simply me taking my turn at doing just that in hopes that you find it encouraging and engaging.  Whatever I end up writing below, please know that you will receive more from God through your relationship with Him than you ever can reading another person's take on this subject.  It's one of those things where a picture truly is worth 1,000 words - probably more.


Also, as a note - I see the Bible as a love story.  I think about how everything in it points to how much God loves us; all the parts where He comforts and all the parts where He disciplines just the same.
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Definition of Fear:

1.  a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid. Synonyms: foreboding, apprehension, consternation, dismay, dread, terror, fright, panic, horror, trepidation, qualm. Antonyms: courage, security, calm, intrepidity.
2. a specific instance of or propensity for such a feeling: an abnormal fear of heights. Synonyms: phobia, aversion; bête noire, bogy, bogey, bugbear. Antonyms: liking, fondness, penchant, predilection.
3. concern or anxiety; solicitude: a fear for someone's safety.
4. reverential awe, especially toward God: the fear of God. Synonyms: awe, respect, reverence, veneration.
5. something that causes feelings of dread or apprehension; something a person is afraid of: Cancer is a common fear.
Definition of Fearsome:
1. causing fear.
2. causing awe or respect.

I included the definition of Fear above to give you background and to be fair.  I don't want it to seem like when I define a term, that I limit it to only the "God" definition.  In most cases that is what applies to the topics best, however sometimes various definitions of words can reveal how that word has evolved over time.  Over time, words might take on a completely different meaning through culture's influence.

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Now that we have that out of the way, let's consider the fearsome love of God for us and how perfect love casts out fear.

John 3:16-18
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."

I start here because it is the first thing that comes to mind.  John 3:16 tells us plainly that God loves the world. The result of this Love is a decision to send His one and only Son into the world to save.  Whoever believes in Jesus will have eternal life.  Whoever does not believe in Jesus stands condemned.
Let's make something clear: God's love is not conditional, it is unconditional.  This verse is not saying that God only loves those who believe in Christ.  No, God loves all people.  This is the message of hope, that God loved the world (everyone in it) so much that He provided everyone hope through Jesus Christ.  Because of God's nature, He exists without time.  So as a side effect of being God, He already knows who will be saved and who will not.
This is a difficult truth, and it is not widely accepted anymore (the part about if you do not believe in Jesus, you stand condemned).  Anyway, that's a side-note right now.  The point is this: today, God loves everyone everywhere in the world.  He loves everyone enough to offer them salvation through Jesus.  Witness this message and boldly share it with love!

1 John 3:16-18
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."

This is amazing!  In John 3:16 there's a love verse - then in 1 John 3:16 it's another love verse!  How do we know what love is?  "Jesus Christ laid down his life for us."  That is how we know.  It's right here in the Bible.  We should lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, children and parents.  Jesus had been given all authority on heaven and on earth and He laid it down so that we could be saved through Him.  Who are we to say that we are entitled to something more?  Who are we to not follow suit with our lives and lay them down for Christ!?  This is one of those verses that truly says it all.  Laying down our lives implies that we are taking right action to love others; meeting their needs as we see them and can do so.  The early church would share all of their possessions that none were left wanting!  None were left wanting because everyone shared all that they had.  Everyone.  My opinion is that churches today have a great opportunity to show others the love of Christ by laying down their lives in this way for one another as needs are revealed.  Others will notice this and they could turn to the Lord and praise Him because of it!  That's not a bad side-effect of showing love...it's wonderfully amazing!

1 John 4:15-18

"Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."

Along with the confession for Jesus, we are offered a union - a new covenant in the blood of Christ (Luke 22:20).  Then we see the use of a very powerful word - "abide."
The definition of abide as it relates to this context is as follows:
1. To remain; continue; stay; Abide with me.
2. To have one's abode; dwell; reside;
3. To continue in a particular condition, attitude, or relationship; last

If we use the definition, we should do things like "remain in love" and "remain in God" in order to abide in God.  This verse changes how we can relate to love.  It implies that we can only relate to love through being with God - because God is love.  What do we have to go on to love if we do not know God?  How is it that God abides in us?
The answer is the Holy Spirit.  Jesus thought it was necessary for Him to return to heaven so that the Holy Spirit could come.  Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection from the dead and returning to heaven unlocked the ability for the Holy Spirit to come into our hearts and "have His abode" in us.  God now dwells within us and has made His home with us.  The Holy Spirit is like God wrapping His arms around you never to let go again.  He seals you in Christ to share in the love relationship that He experiences in relationship with Himself as the Trinity.  That's right - you, me, and all those who believe have been brought in to share in a perfect love relationship in God's midst that casts out all fear.  We have nothing to fear because if God is with us, then who can be against us? (Romans 8:31-32)
We see in this verse fear placed up against boldness.  How has love been perfected in us?  (Verse 17 says) "That we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world."  When fear exists, boldness usually does not.  Panic may parade as courage when we are afraid, however boldness is something grounded that stands firm in the face of any adversary or falsehood.  It's as if courage and faith collided at the command of the Holy Spirit in your heart to create right action and right words.

Psalm 111:10
"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
   all who follow his precepts have good understanding.
   To him belongs eternal praise."

Flipping the Script on "Fear"
Above in 1 John 4:15-18, we saw a reference to love casting out a type of fear.  That type of fear is different than the fear mentioned in Psalm 111:10.  This verse mentions the "fear of the Lord" which absolutely continues to exist in a love relationship with God.  This is a vital point I want to make with regards to loving God.  In our relationship with God, fear of the Lord is right, good, and necessary.  If we are not experiencing "the fear of the Lord" then we are not seeing the Lord for who He fully is.  There's something about God that is separate, other, and awesome even though He has made His home with us in sending the Holy Spirit.  So do not be afraid, but fear the Lord and seek wisdom from Him.

This holy fear of the Lord is what drives reverence and awe.  These are right responses to the present and miraculous God who IS.  In Christ our relationship with God is repaired, so we are able to enter into His presence without the "fear of wrath."  An appropriate term to describe God then would be the terribly overused word, "Awesome."

Delighting in the Word / Lord - a product of true love relationship with God
It would haunt me if I failed to mention that people are created to "delight in the Lord."


Psalm 119:92-94
"If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction. I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have preserved my life. Save me, for I am yours; I have sought out your precepts."



Delighting in the Lord requires fellowship.  This fellowship with God can take many different forms.  It can happen in bible study or devotions, it can happen while dancing or singing, playing piano or guitar, or it can happen on a basketball court or baseball diamond.  Do not make the mistake that God is a stranger to the desires that He placed in your heart.  We all connect with God in a customized way.  The thing is, the way that we connect with Him is customized by Him...and part of the customization is that we delight in the Lord.  God is not looking for the person who truly loves music to quit that and go on retreat and give everything up except for meditation.  Don't get me wrong, a person can do that and can connect with God as well!  However, these kind of things are not the only ways to connect and fellowship with God.  Trust me, God is not nearly confined that much.  Part of "offering our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God" (Romans 12:1) is figuring out these kind of things for us.  I definitely believe there is truth to the idea that you can feel God's pleasure when you are doing some of these kinds of things: the things He designed for your delight in Him, and His delight in you.


Bearing Fruit - product of love relationship with God
Finally, experiencing God's fearsome love and sharing that kind of love with others produces "fruit."  Remaining in the love of Christ keeps us connected to the true vine.  Our obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit is also a way that we remain in Christ's love.  The Spirit is ever etching God's law on our hearts just as fast as we can handle it.  This is simply to say that we are being led by God in the way we should live our lives.  Believers in Christ are not directionless, and are not alone.  We have Christ as the head of the church, and the Holy Spirit constantly working with us to shape our hearts and renew our minds to live accordingly.  All this is happening in the midst of a love relationship.  Without the fearsome love of God, none of this could happen.


Another take on love - written to the Corinthians by Paul
1 Corinthians 13 paints love as the foundation for all other effort for Christ.  Take a look:

"If I speak in the tongues[a] of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,[b] but do not have love, I gain nothing.
 4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
 13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

I'm not going to critique these verses closely, because I feel that has been fairly overdone.  Let me say though, that it has been overdone for a good reason; that is, that these verses are about love being a kind of foundation for all that we offer in this life to each other.  If you do anything and do not have love, you might as well do nothing.  Actually, doing nothing might be better than doing lots of things without love.  The words in 1 Corinthians say it much better than I can.

The million dollar question then is, "How then should we live"?
See God for who He is.  He is our all in all in Christ.  We are loved without condition, by the God who makes it possible to love without condition.  This kind of love is what we should be communicating to others through our lives.  We sacrifice because Christ sacrificed and our hope is in Him alone.  That is the example He showed us in washing the disciples feet and serving them.  We are compelled to follow that example not because we fear the wrath of God, but because we recognize that we are loved in a miraculous, crazy way.

Become vulnerable and lay down your life at the feet of Jesus.  Experience the fearsome love of Christ.

Servants - Acts 1:6-7 & Matthew 24:36-51 8/18/2011

Acts 1:6-7
"⁶ Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
 ⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority."

For hundreds of years the Jews have been waiting for God to "restore the kingdom to Israel."  Jesus' response switches the core expectation of those who would believe in Him.  The very question that so many people have been waiting for an answer to is now rendered obsolete.  It's not that it's fruition is obsolete; however in this verse Jesus shows borderline indifference to times and dates and says it's not for them to know.  

Therefore, the same will be said and re-enforced here.  We are not to worry about times and dates for questions like this.  The many in history who have tried to predict when events will happen before they do have most often been foiled by some element that is, and always will be, completely out of their control.

Other than the book of Revelation, which is full of prophetic and extremely visual and interpretive language, Matthew 24 gives us the most concrete information regarding what Christians most often refer to as "the end times."  I bring this up for 2 reasons.  First, to mention that I'm not entirely sure that what is being referenced in this Acts verse as "restoring the kingdom to Israel" is the same as what Christians often refer to as "the end times."  I think it probably is, however I cannot be sure. While specific numbering exists in Revelation, I do not claim to know that the 144,000 from the 12 tribes of Israel is the same Israel that is referenced in the first question.

The 2nd reason I bring up Matthew 24 instead of delving into Revelatory scripture is that it is Jesus speaking to his disciples about the events to come and nearing the end of Matthew 24, leaves them with some solid, concrete stuff relating to what all the information means to them.

Matthew 24:36-51
^"36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son,^[f] but only the Father. ³⁷ As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸ For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹ and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ⁴⁰ Two men will be in the field; one will be taken and the other left. ⁴¹ Two women will be grinding with a hand mill; one will be taken and the other left.
   ⁴² “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. ⁴³ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁴ So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.
   ⁴⁵ “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? ⁴⁶ It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. ⁴⁷ Truly I tell you, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. ⁴⁸ But suppose that servant is wicked and says to himself, ‘My master is staying away a long time,’ ⁴⁹ and he then begins to beat his fellow servants and to eat and drink with drunkards. ⁵⁰ The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. ⁵¹ He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

All of scripture is extremely valuable and full of truth and words that can give life alongside a relationship with Jesus Christ.  For me, these verses paint a picture of how we should live every single day.  If you live each day like the faithful and wise servant, you will hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  The trouble with living the life of the faithful servant is sin.  Without sin we would never consider what to do with our time if God - the master - was not present.  We would simply take care of the household He left us as He would take care of it Himself!  This is how it was in Eden before the fall - before sin and iniquity entered the heart of man.

Case and point - do not become enraptured with the end-times or when they are coming.  Seek first His kingdom and have a mind like the faithful servant.  Focus on what God has given you to take care of and do that with Him!  As you consciously choose to do these things as God would do them, your relationship with Him will grow into a dependable, immovable rock to hold onto at all times.  The goal of the faithful servant is not to simply fit Jesus in, it's to recognize that Jesus is all there is.


The author of life wants to be involved and take the lead in writing your story.  Whether you let him in or not in this life, He will write the final page. 

Romans 10:9-10 - 7/10/2011

Let's start by looking at the verse:

Romans 10:9-10
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

There's so much in these 2 verses.  There is much room for gleaning truth, and much room for misinterpretation relating to our salvation as Christians.

Believing with our hearts is the core of this scripture.  If we believe with our hearts, we will confess that Jesus is Lord.  Let's take a look at confessing for a moment, because we need to be clear.  There are many ways in which I can confess something.  I can say it in words, I can communicate it clearly using gestures, a look, or many other non-verbals that communicate what it is that I'm trying to say (or not to say).  What about e-mail?  If I type in an e-mail "Jesus is Lord" is that confessing that I believe?  Because I type it, does that mean you can trust that I believe in my heart that Jesus is Lord?  What about those who cannot speak?  Can they not be saved because they cannot "declare with their mouth?"


Clearly to confess or "declare with your mouth" does not mean with your mouth alone.  However, this does not mean that confession that Jesus is Lord is optional for the believer - the Christian.  What we have here is a foundational truth that is linked together with an overflow outcome.  The foundational truth is that in order to be saved, you need to believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from the dead.  If you believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, you validate and affirm every claim Jesus made to be God - and to be serving a Father in Heaven.  In doing so, you believe in your heart that Jesus is Lord and that the purpose for his death and resurrection was to save you from your own sin; sin that you could not save yourself from.

The overflow outcome of this belief is that you confess Jesus is Lord.  This confession is through word or action of some kind; through some display that He is your God.  If you truly believe in your heart, confession follows, and it is right and necessary for it to follow.  The thing about overflow is that it's authentic.  The action or fruit produced comes from the place of belief in the heart.  It's not from obligation.  You can confess "Jesus is Lord" out of obligation - and that's not what is meant here.  There is recognition of truth, validated emotions toward a loving God, and a resulting life surrender.  Part of that surrender is a desire to speak the truth when the opportunity arises, and sometimes making the opportunity to speak the truth that Jesus is Lord!

Consider Peter.  Jesus tells Peter that he will deny him 3 times.  Peter sort of shrugs this off and says that will never happen.  Then, the time comes when Peter is actually approached 3 different times and asked if he was with Jesus, if he was one of the disciples.  Peter responds that he was not with Jesus all 3 times.  Does this mean that Peter wasn't a believer?  Of course not.  First of all, Jesus told Peter it would happen, so if it didn't Jesus would have been a liar, which would have broken down the character and integrity of Christ to something that could not be very God and very man.  Second, Peter like many of us is allowed some bad days.  I'm sure there was a variety of emotions running through Peter at the time he was asked this.  I mean, his savior is going to a cross to be crucified.  He was mixed up about stuff, and then this happens.

Perfection is not expected even though it is where the bar is set by the life of Christ.  We will spend our lives becoming more like Jesus; becoming more like the person God has in mind for us to be for His glory.  We'd like to believe that we'll never fail to confess that Jesus is Lord, but chances are we already have.  This is one of the many reasons why a relationship with God and a relationship with other Christians is so vital.  A relationship with Him provides an arena to work out things like this.  To pray and ask forgiveness, to seek guidance and be emboldened in our faith.

Believe in the One who is worthy, Jesus Christ.  Do your best, then empty yourself and ask God to direct you and to help you do better each day.

Author and Bible Study 101

If you read the bible, you will run into 3 different schools of thought (in general).  To explain these schools of thought, I'll use Romans 10:9-10 as an example.

Romans 10:9-10
⁹ If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

First, that the literal interpretation of the bible is the only way to read it.  That means that when Paul says, "declare with your mouth" you better believe that's what he meant, and anyone who doesn't do exactly that is lost without hope.  Second, that the bible is largely left to interpretation - meaning that with verses like these, we basically use our best guess and have the freedom to interpret what Paul is saying.  For example, it would be like me saying, "Paul's point is to say that your heart has to be in it."  This statement is a vast generalization of the content of this scripture.  The third and final approach lies somewhere in the middle of the other 2 schools of thought.  This approach should mix the literal and interpretation with relationship with God and experience and knowledge of who He is. 

It takes a relationship with God, the leading and teaching of the Holy Spirit, and an open mind to be able to read scripture and come away with the truth.  There will always be more to know and deeper truth to uncover about who God is.  Your goal each time you read should not be to know Him fully yesterday.  Each session, try to read to gain understanding of who He is in one or a few aspects.  Some of these "shorter" term goals will have you searching scripture for weeks trying to come up with an answer that is the truth.  It is on those journeys for truth that you get to know God and your relationship with Him is solidified.


My school of thought about how to approach the bible lies somewhere in the middle of literal and interpretation.  Both schools of thought have merit, and I believe the truth of scripture is reckoned to our hearts by our relationship with God and our willingness to be open to the Holy Spirit's teaching.  I believe that the bible is the authoritative, inerrant word of God on pages.  It is "who Jesus is" spilled out on paper for our benefit as believers and to provide a tool to us to share the Gospel with those who do not know Jesus.  And yes, I believe that everything in the bible is an unveiling of who Jesus is; both Old and New Testaments.  Everything was created through Him and true life hinges on His life, sacrifice, death, and resurrection - the power of His blood to cover our sins.  Jesus is everything.  If you miss everything else I ever tell you - do not miss that Jesus is everything.  From our line of sight as people, we cannot see God unless we are looking through Christ.  If the Holy Spirit is working in you to know and understand God - it is doing so through the looking glass of Christ.  He is the narrow path to eternal life and He is our only hope of salvation from sins.  Praise and honor and glory and power are His and rightly so!


My prayer for you is that you build a solid foundation in Jesus Christ through any words that I write.  Be discerning (this means that you decide together with God) about the information you accept and believe about Him and the information you leave aside.  This world is filled with false teachers and prophets that will lead you astray - and that isn't going to change any time soon.  Be on your guard.  I pray that you would find men and women of God who have been entrusted with the Word and take the bible, Jesus, and your relationship with God seriously.  Your leaders, mentors, pastors, teachers will answer to Christ for how they shape your faith.  Knowing this they have charted their courses to get involved in your life.  Unfortunately, not all leaders are trustworthy; not near as many as should be.  Let your trust of others be born out of your trust in the Lord.  We are commanded to love others as ourselves and love the Lord our God with all of our heart, mind, soul, and strength.  Love others with a discerning heart always cultivating truth so that you may not be deceived.


Finally, Christ offers us His peace.  Life with Christ is a learning experience.  You will always be learning.  Terms you understand as one thing become something else entirely as you come to know the author and perfecter of our faith.  The peace of God will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.

I thank God for every person who comes across these words and is encouraged, blessed, challenged, or pressed toward a saving knowledge and belief in Jesus Christ.  Be blessed as Christ leads you into true life!