Vol. 18 No. 34 | August 29, 2016
In Ephesians chapter 3 Paul is explaining the mysterious work of God that brought him to the point of bringing God’s message of grace and hope to all people…Jews and non-Jews are heirs together and members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Near the end of that part of the conversation he makes this astounding statement: In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12, NIV)
What a gift! To be told by God that we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Some would tell us we must be careful how we approach God. Some would say you must be cautious. Some would say we must approach God with fear. Consider these words from John Ortberg.
The Bible says that, “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” Today we don’t speak much of this. Our images of God have tended to grow smaller and more comfortable. What does it mean to fear the Lord? We have no need to be afraid that God will do mean or destructive things. We do not need to be afraid that God’s love is not fully trustworthy. One of C. S. Lewis’s characters expresses fear at the prospect of meeting his Christfigure, the great lion Aslan, and wonders if he is quite safe. “Safe? Who said anything about safe? Of course he’s not safe. But he’s good.” This fear involves reverence and awe, a healthy recognition of who God is. It also involves recognition of our fallenness. But worship reminds me that the day will come when our fallenness will be utterly healed. In that day we will fully realize the truth of the saying that “perfect love casts out fear.”
The Lord of the Universe does not want us to be afraid of Him. The great God almighty does not want to be fearful when we approach Him. He wants us to approach Him with freedom and confidence. The Message says it like this: “When we trust in him, we’re free to say whatever needs to be said, bold to go wherever we need to go.”
What are you waiting for? Go to Him with all the concerns and pains of your heart. Go to Him will all your dreams. Go to Him with your wildest imaginations. Go to Him with all your fears. Take Your sadness to Him.
When you go, go with confidence. Go freely. Go to Him knowing He wants you to go.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2016. Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved.