Element Church Insider

Matthew 9:  God is UNAFRAID.

Well, either you’re going to say “Duh!” or “Blasphemy!” to this characteristic.  Of COURSE God isn’t afraid and WHY would I even question that He would be?  I’m not questioning God’s fear level AT ALL.  AND I’m not trying to assume that you didn’t know that about God.  I hope this characteristic about God can be an encouragement to us today.  It is a different look at this passage, it was helpful to me and I hope it is to you as well.

Again, Hebrews 1 tells us that Jesus is the exact representation of who God is.  Then what does Jesus reflect here?

#1  Jesus was unafraid to attempt the impossible.  “Is it easier for me to say ‘your sins are forgiven’or ‘get up and walk’?”  (Jeff’s version) “But to prove that I can do the impossible ‘GET UP AND WALK’”

#2  Jesus wasn’t afraid of what ANYONE thought.  Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector to follow Him.  After hanging with him for a while people asked His disciples “Why does Jesus hang out with such scum?”  (How often does someone ask that of me?  Not very)  Jesus didn’t care WHAT they thought.  He told them the plain truth “Healthy people don’t need a doctor, sick people do.  I haven’t come to call those who THINK they are righteous but those who KNOW they are sinners.”  He was talking to the religious leaders and elite of the day.  It didn’t matter to Him WHO questioned him.  He would do what is right.

#3  He wasn’t afraid of being considered unclean.  When Jesus touched the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years, If found out, would have meant He was unclean and could not enter the Temple.  To Jesus PEOPLE mattered more than PRESTIGE!  The ability to enter the temple, participate in the ritual of worship, be accepted by the religious elite meant NOTHING compared to comforting AND healing this woman considered unclean.

#4  He isn’t afraid of the task ahead.  ‘The harvest is many but the workers are few.”  I LOVE Jesus’response by the way.  He didn’t go into a woe is me mentality.  “WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO WITH THIS HARVEST.  NO ONE WANTS TO PARTICIPATE.  THE CHURCH IS GOING DOWN IIN FLAMES”.  “…the workers are few.  SO pray to the Lord of the Harvest for MORE workers.”  The task is HUGE and the answer is prayer.

What seemingly impossible thing is God asking me to do that FEAR is keeping me from even trying it?  What opinion of someone else is hindering me from being ALL that God wants me to be and going where GOD wants me to go?  What label is stopping me from reaching out to someone who needs the touch of Jesus?  What daunting task is out ahead that I need to pray about instead of be afraid?

If Jesus lives IN YOU, then you can also be unafraid.  There may be moments of fear.  Flashes of it.  But because the UNAFRAID one lives inside of me, I can be confident and overcome my fear in my pursuit of Him.

Overcoming fear,

Jeff