What scares you? Fear is the great killer of love and hope because we know perfect love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18). Each of us who have chosen to follow Christ has been called to love. We love because Christ first loved us (1 John 4:19; John 13:34). Every waking hour should be spent loving others as Christ did. The reality is we shy away from expressing such love.
We’re afraid of what others might think or what loving others might cost us. It’s one thing to love your spouse or children; it’s quite another to love a homeless man, gang member, terrorist, or someone in prison. When the going gets tough, we are quick to hit the exit door.
Jesus didn’t take the easy way out. Rather, He chose what was the most difficult road anyone could travel. Despite having all power at His command, He willingly elected to be mocked, beaten, tortured, spit upon, and killed. He did all this willingly to provide a way for you and me to have freedom and life. I’m sure in His human form Jesus experienced fear over what He was about to endure. He was in such anguish that sweat dripped as blood from His forehead (Luke 22:44). Most of us will never encounter what Jesus chose to face. We scare far easier than He did.
This becomes highly problematic when we recognize we are at war every moment we live. The spiritual forces of Satan viciously attack any who choose to follow Jesus. We are enemy number one, and he will do anything to destroy us, make us turn away, or simply cause us to fear. What scares you about the devil? The One inside of you is greater than Satan will ever be (1 John 4:4). Even though we know this on an intellectual level, we have raised generations of weak and timid followers of Christ.
A.W. Tozer once said, “We languish for men who feel themselves expendable in the warfare of the soul, who cannot be frightened by threats of death because they have already died to the allurements of this world. Such men will be free from the compulsions that control weaker men. They will not be forced to do things by the squeeze of circumstances; their only compulsion will come from within—or from above.” That is reckless faith. That is hopeful abandon. Oh, for a generation of men and women who will not back down but will only run into the battle, come what may.
So, what scares you? What’s keeping you on the sidelines instead of being on the front-lines? What compulsions are controlling you? Remember when you surrendered all to Jesus? It’s time for those things to go. You asked Jesus to take control of your life. It’s time you handed Him the wheel. When we exude love, fear will flee. We need not fear anything. The devil cannot kill your soul. He’s got nothing on you. Jesus is looking for warriors. Will you answer the call?