17 Oct 2014 - afraid not

Do not be afraid.

But wait, what about "the one who after killing
has the power to cast into Gehenna"? Aren't we supposed to "be afraid of that one"?

No. Jesus tells us, "Do not be afraid" even though there is plenty that is worthy of fear. We do not fear, not because there is nothing worthy of fear, but instead because nothing escapes the notice of God. We do not fear because the one who is in us is stronger than the one who is in the world (cf. 1 Joh. 4:4). He sees every single detail, every bird of the field, and every hair of our heads. And it is an attention which is not indifferent. He doesn't just watch as we struggle. He chooses us, specifically.  He chooses each one of us individually. He has a destiny for each one of us, and that destiny is "in accord with the purpose of the One who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will". Nothing can stop him from fulfilling his will for us. All things work together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose (cf. Rom. 8:28). We are called!

This morning, God says to us, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."

And yet, when we meet challenges and sufferings we start to worry.  We worry, whether we put it in these terms or not, that his purpose for us might not be fulfilled. We become fearful and question if the LORD is really watching. If he is watching, we think, whence these apparent setbacks? 

He assures us that he is not missing anything. No detail escapes his notice. the hairs of our heads are counted, and we are worth more than many sparrows. We can take comfort in knowing that he "accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will". None of these apparent setbacks can stop him. In fact, he makes even them work for his purposes.

This is why Ignatius of Antioch is not "afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more". He knows that he is worth more than many sparrows. He knows that even the apparent setback of death can't stop the God who accomplishes all things from accomplishing his plan for Ignatius. Because of this, Ignatius is able to write:

The time for my birth is close at hand. Forgive me, my brothers. Do not stand in the way of my birth to real life; do not wish me stillborn. My desire is to belong to God. Do not, then, hand me back to the world. Do not try to tempt me with material things. Let me attain pure light. Only on my arrival there can I be fully a human being.

We are blessed because the LORD has chosen us to be his own. He has a destiny for us that cannot be subverted by any force except ourselves. And what is that destiny? It is to "exist for the praise of his glory". Notice, we are not just to exist and praise his glory. We are to exist for the purpose of praising his glory, indeed as monuments of praise to his name.

Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten stringed lyre chant his praises.