In rest there is no fear. Over and over and over in the Gospels Jesus tells people to “fear not.”
“But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Be of good cheer! It is I; DO NOT BE AFRAID.’” (Matthew 14:27)1
I love that! If we’re aware that He’s here with us, fear is replaced with good cheer. He spoke this to His disciples while their boat was being tossed by the waves in a violent storm! He’s saying to us: “You can be of good cheer even in the middle of a storm if you know I am with you.”
“DO NOT BE AFRAID; only believe, and she will be made well.” (Luke 8:50)
When fear is let go of, we can believe for miracles!
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. DO NOT FEAR therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Luke 12:7)
Think about that: the fact that God knows everything about us is supposed to relieve our fears and give us a sense of value. That defies human logic. How many times have you thought, “Well, if they REALLY knew me…” But God knows everything about you, and He loves you anyway! Relax!
“DO NOT FEAR, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)
Our Father, ruler and owner of the universe, is pleased to give us the kingdom. So what do we have to worry about?
”Therefore I say to you, NO NOT WORRY about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” (Matthew 6:25-30)
Imagine that! God compares the lilies of the field to the glory of the wealthiest man who ever lived. He is saying to us that if we toiled and spun as hard as we could and amassed the greatest fortune known to man, it wouldn’t even touch what God has done for us and what God has provided for us. But there’s only one way to access it: by faith.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE in which we stand… “(Romans 5:1-2)
Justified through Jesus. Just as if I’d never sinned! That gives us the greatest peace that there is, and it gives us secret, private access by faith into His unlimited favor.
“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” (Romans 8:32)
Is anything more valuable than Jesus? If God gave us Jesus, how could He withhold anything good from us?!
(from pages 342-344 of Unveiling Jesus)
Want more from Tricia Gunn? Check out excerpts from the Unveiling Jesus 20-part series!
Unveiling Jesus, by Tricia Gunn, is a verse by verse study of the pure gospel of grace. It’s an amazing journey of love, identity, and freedom in Christ.
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1All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version. Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.
