Can We Live a Life Free From Fear?
Scripture: “Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.” – Psalm 112:6,7
Observation/Application:
The Word tells us that if we are righteous, that we will not be shaken. We will have no fear. Our hearts will remain steadfast. We will trust in the Lord. So how do we become unshakeable, and free from fear? This scripture tells us that we are to be righteous. So what exactly does that mean?
Merriam-Webster defines righteousness as, “acting in accord with divine or moral law : free from guilt or sin”. When we talk about morality, we talk about right and wrong. But by what standard do we determine what is right and what is wrong? We must have some standard or baseline to refer to. Any standard designed by man is flawed because one person’s perspective can render the other’s invalid. What is right and legal in one country can be illegal in another. So it is not a matter of law.
The only standard that we can refer to determine what is righteous and what is not is God’s law that can be found in the Bible. It is clearly written, and the Word transcends all cultures, countries, and man-made perspectives. It is the only standard and baseline that exists because it came straight from God and delivered and verified through Jesus Christ, his one and only Son.
“The Bible’s standard of human righteousness is God’s own perfection in every attribute, every attitude, every behavior, and every word. Thus, God’s laws, as given in the Bible, both describe His own character and constitute the plumb line by which He measures human righteousness.” – (https://www.gotquestions.org/righteousness.html). So if we want to not be shaken, if we want to live without fear, it all starts with living a righteous life. To live righteously, we simply need to bounce our actions up against the Word of God. Before we act we should first consider what Jesus taught and instructed.
Unfortunately, the more I read and come to understand what it means to live a righteous life, the more I realize it is impossible to do on my own. The standard is just way too high. But the good news is that it is possible through the cleansing and forgiveness of our sin through belief in Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit. I know this to be true because the Bible says so in 2 Corinthians, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” – (2 Corinthians 5:21)
So can we be righteous, absolutely! Knowing that we can be righteous, we also can know that we can live without fear. We know that we can have a life and a Spirit that cannot be shaken.
Are we experiencing a life that is free from fear, from worry? Or do we have a Spirit that needs more of God’s perfection in our every action, our every word, and in our very mindset and attitude? I certainly could use more of God. In fact, I can’t just get enough. I’m not going to try to hide it or deny it. I absolutely want an unshakeable Spirit. I absolutely want to be free from fear. And so I seek the Lord first, today and every day.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word this morning. You know my heart Lord. Cleanse any unrighteousness that is within me. Make my heart pure and holy. Help me to be diligent in seeking your first each and every day. Keep away the temptations and attacks of the enemy Lord. Help us to be more like you each and every day. Help us to know and be diligent in the unique calling that you gave each and every one of us. And help us to understand and support the calling of others who you surround us with, knowing, respecting, and loving our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. Let our lives be worthy of the sacrifice that you have made. You promise that we can live free from fear, and that we can be unshakeable. We build our lives on that rock Lord, and know that your promise is true. You never fail on your Promise Lord. Build our faith, and remove our unbelief, so that we can live in unity to this truth. Help our unbelief Lord, so that your Promise is fulfilled in me each and every day, for your honor and glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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