Love Over Fear

There are many fearful people in the world right now, and some days I am numbered among them; perhaps you are as well.  

To be honest, we have good reason to be. Many of us have watched the money we have saved for years for retirement, college, etc., disappear over the last few months.  It's harder to sell or buy a house, and everything costs more than in recent years.

Not to mention the fact that many of us have beloved friends who have been deemed as "other," because of their race, gender, sexual identity, and are now living in dread about what the future holds for them.  

Our elected leaders seem more interested in retaining or expanding their own power than in the welfare of their constituents.  There is conflict all over the world, and that same sense of dread has become a global concern.  

That's the reality of where we are at this point in history.  

But it's also a moment in time when those of us who truly want to follow Jesus have an opportunity to share the light of God's love to a world that needs to feel it now more than ever.  

As we come to the end of this season of Lent, in a time when fear seems to control the hearts of so many, it's vital for those who call themselves followers of Jesus to rise above it. 

Walter Brueggemann once wrote: 

"The truth is that frightened people will never turn the world, because they use too much energy on protection of self. It is the vocation of the baptized, the known and named and unafraid, to make the world whole." 

Brueggemann's insight reveals a profound truth: fear can paralyze us, preventing us from living out our calling. When we prioritize our safety and security over the teachings of Christ, we become mere spectators in a world that desperately needs healing. 

Fear keeps us from embracing the radical selflessness Jesus demonstrated during His time on Earth. It keeps us from reaching out to the marginalized, standing up for justice, and spreading love in place of division.

In these challenges, we can turn to scripture for guidance and assurance. In 2 Timothy 1:7, we are reminded, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind." 

This passage encourages us to shed our fears and instead embody the spirit of courage, compassion, and wisdom that God grants us. As followers of Christ, we are called to live out this spirit for our benefit and for the sake of others. 

The current climate may be filled with fearful individuals, but we are not meant to blend into the shadows. Our faith equips us to confront fear head-on and rise as beacons of hope in our communities. 

In doing so, we can embody the nature of Christ, who loved without bounds and challenged the status quo in pursuit of wholeness and reconciliation.

As we reflect on the journey of Lent and the coming of Easter, let us shed the shackles of fear that bind us. Let us move forward boldly, knowing that transformation happens through our actions—our kindness, compassion, and willingness to serve. 

The world desperately needs love transcending fear; it craves Christ's hands and feet to enter the fray. 

So, I encourage you to embrace the call to live without fear. 

Recognize that you are known and named by God, and that your purpose is to bring wholeness into this fractured world. May we heal the divides, empower the lost, and share the message of hope that can only be found in Christ. 

Together, may we walk unafraid into a future brightly lit by love and selflessness.

May it be so, and may the grace and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all, now and forever. Amen.