Wisdom Hunter Devotional 3/30/2017
“Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear their threats; do not be frightened. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord.” (1 Peter 3:13-15)
Whenever I’m prone to doubt or anxiety, I find these fears can freeze me in inactivity and leave me unable to make even the simplest of decisions. One of the great challenges in the Christian life is learning to allow perfect love to cast out all fear (1 John 4:18) so that we can continue to journey towards life with Christ.
In the passage above, we learn a valuable lesson in how to navigate life as disciples of Christ: “Do not be frightened” does not mean that life is free from threats, evil, or violence. A simple read of human history or today’s newspaper reminds us of this truth. The world is not as it is meant to be, and humans live with hatred towards one another and out of step with God and creation. It is our fragmented and isolated existence that Christ came to save, making us whole and uniting us to the Father through the work of the Spirit.
I’ve noticed that the more I read negative headlines and listen to threats that swirl about us, the more I am prone to fear. The things we pay attention to and notice on a frequent basis become a part of who we are and how we see the world. Does this mean we should simply ignore the world around us and embrace some kind of blind optimism? Of course not. And yet, at the same time, we need to make sure we aren’t so focused on a broken vision of the world that we lose sight of the glorious future to which we are being called!
Peter gives us a positive vision of life lived as children of the Light. Actively seek to live a good and holy life. Focus your desires and actions on things that are true and pure. Show in word and deed that you are living as a child of the King and a member of His Kingdom.
Fearful paralysis is rooted in a lack of clarity on who God is and who you are in Christ. When we remember that we are beloved by Christ, that his Kingdom will never fail even when storms surround us and we feel threatened, we will move forward boldly, filled with love for God and courage to continue our journey.