“Fears Within, Christ Within”

"Fears Within, Christ Within"

    Whether directly or tacitly, the Scriptures continually call us to "Fear not!" (Luke 12:7).  Such frequency of the command implies to us the relentless care and caring of our Heavenly Father, along with the truth of how often we will face the temptation to be afraid in this present life.  The Apostle Paul knew the faithfulness of God, but also faced the ongoing challenge:

   "God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind… When we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears" (II Corinthian 7:5).

   As with Paul, we must affirm the power, love, and sound mind given to us in the Lord Jesus Christ whereby every sense of insecurity can be overcome.  However, as with Paul, we will also face many temptations to be afraid in a world filled with spiritual influences that seek to thwart our experience of God's peace.  Walking with our Lord does not preclude us from the going challenge of fearful thoughts, emotions, and even physical sensations.  No less than the chief Apostle of the Lord's grace knew the reality of both God's keeping, and the necessity for it.  "Within were fears" confessed Paul.  Did they overcome or overwhelm him?  We can be confident that our brother of old consistently faced his challenges through Christ, dealing with temptations to be afraid by heeding the testimony of David: "What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee" (Psalm 56:3).  David and Paul knew that insecurities within provide opportunity for the revelation of a greater internal reality that leads us in peace, namely, the presence of the Prince of peace.  "Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world" (I John 4:4).

   Any notion that the peace of Christ presently involves the absence of fearful feelings, notions, and sensations does not coincide with Biblical truth.  One day such a glorious experience will grace us with eternal tranquility that includes no sense of trepidation.  This is not that day.  Presently, we must "fight the good fight of faith" amid enemies allowed by God to challenge our emotional, mental, and physical sensibilities (I Timothy 6:12).  Fears within will confront us throughout our earthly lifetime.  Christ within and the faith He fosters must counter as we consciously and decisively trust the risen Captain of our salvation.  We must expect the conflict, but even more, expect the risen Lord Jesus to lead us in His peace of heart whereby we overcome devilish and fleshly temptations to fear.

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

(John 16:33)

"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

(I John 5:4)

Weekly Memory Verse

    "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." 

(John 16:33)