Do you need a victory? If you don't right now, you will. Life is a battle. Battles require victories (unless you want to lose).
Exodus 20:20
"Don't be afraid," Moses said, "for God has come in this way to show you his
awesome power. From now on, let your fear of him keep you from sinning!"
Did you know that when God appeared to the people of Israel in the desert, they were afraid? And this was the "bad" fear, or terror, dread, panic, etc . . . They were so afraid that they would not look at Him or go near Him, but sent Moses to deal with Him. Consider this: When Moses went up the mountain to talk to God, guess what happened. The people had a drunken party.
It is interesting that the wrong approach to God always results in sin. Fear in the sense of fright (this is NOT the fear of God referred to in His Word) drives us FROM His presence, never to Him. I know that's a bit foreign to what we sometimes hear traditionally from many pulpits. But, tradition sometimes makes the Word of no effect (Jesus said that).
You may be struggling with this. This may set someone free. God's TRUTH always does! A little about sin. God is more concerned with our relationship with Him than about anything else. Freedom from sin always comes according to the strength of our relationship with Creator. Sin cannot exist in His presence. The closer we come to Him, the farther we walk away from sin. We need to try to do right, but the ultimate release comes from our relationship with the Father, not our efforts.
God is not angry with you. God is not angry with you. God is not angry with you. GOD IS NOT ANGRY WITH YOU! Am I getting through. Well, I said the truth always brings release from sin. Sometimes we are so convinced that Father is so disgusted with us that we feel like we might just as well bust hell wide open with our behavior. Hmmm . . Would that thought come from God or Satan? I think you know.
You see, God was angry. But He even told Noah He would not be angry forever. He did something very radical. Brief story: Many years ago when I did not know the Holy God, I used to vent by taking a piece or lumber and violently breaking it over a rock piling behind my house. Then I felt a little better. Don't try this! There's a better way : )
What our Father did was vent all His anger by burying it deeply in His Son, Jesus, on the cross. He did this because He was the only One who could pay that price. For anyone that thinks Jesus was not tough, think again. He took all the anger, frustration and despair over sin from our Holy God and paid the price.
NOW THERE IS NO MORE ANGER LEFT TOWARD US!
Do not be terrified of God. Lovingly respect and revere Him. Draw close to Him. He has made Himself a FATHER, a friend, an ever-present help in time of need. He is our Father, after all, and He says over and over how he longs to takes us under His care and pour out His great love. Receive! Receive! Receive! Then . . .
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