Is There a Good Christian Fear?

What is a fear Christ-followers should have?

You'll want to know this.

FOMO is an acronym that means the Fear Of Missing Out. We want good things, right? So a fear of missing out on something is very real, and it directs our steps.

Obviously, we should not live in fear. Note 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

What keeps you from being afraid, as indicated by the above verse, is God.

Your relationship with Christ repels the fears that come your way.

1 John 4:18 says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."

AND, we know that if we follow the Lord, that He provides all we need (James 1:17; 2 Corinthians 9:8). Jesus' sufficiency is where we find what we have many times sung the words...

"He is all I need."

Here, then, is the fear we ought to have: missing out on loving God. Unfortunately, we may think we love God because we surround ourselves with the forms and duties of God.

We look the part and do the part.

We begin to think we've done pretty good at it, too.

But our heart does not love God.

Subtly, we've shifted our love from the Person of God to the things of God.

Sunday, I want to lead us—you and me—to invest time as a church family together, making sure our love for God is solid and true. We often talk about being God's light in the world, but we can't be the light if we distance ourselves from the True Light. We are going to see what it looks like when a church loses its love for God. And we will seek to restore our love for Him.

We will also kick off the week, as we get ready for Pastor Kurt Skelly to preach at Open Door on Monday and Tuesday at 7pm. God's Word is a refining fire, and It changes our lives and community. I know that if you will come and let God's Truth be spoken to you, your life will be changed in good ways.

If the things we do for Christ as a church and ministries are a blessing to you, I encourage you to share them with others. I am blessed to pastor a great flock, and it is a joy to share the real testimonies of lives we see of people following and loving Jesus each day.

May God's blessings be on you,
Pastor Dennis M. Schaffer