Author: Jack Flacco

Are we afraid of what others could do to us? We should not fear, for if we confess Jesus is the Son of God, God will be with us, protect us and care for us from sunset to sunset. He will not allow us to fall by the wayside, for His love will abide in us forever.

“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.”

(1 John 4:16,18)

If we have God abiding in us, then fear has no room in us. Fear is the worry of punishment; but Jesus came to remove that punishment. Through Him, we have reconciliation with the Father; therefore whatever our sin, we have forgiveness and no reason to worry about judgment.

With fear no longer choking us, we can live abundant and joyful lives. We then no longer are walking in the darkness, but raising our hands in praise in the light. With God as our only God, He perfects our faith by His love abiding in us.

Therefore, let us not fear of what others could do to us. Through Jesus’ sacrifice, God has promised to deliver us from our trials and tribulations. All we have to do is have faith that He will do it, for perfect love casts out fear.

Show mercy to all, for our Father who is in Heaven shows mercy unto us. Our tormentors may lay their hands on us, grieving us to beg relief, but our God will not forget. He will give us comfort during our time of grief.

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.”

(Luke 6:32-36)

Jesus Christ our Lord, who died for our sins, suffered at the hands of His tormentors. For a brief time, the sky went dark and the clouds turned wet, yet He now sits at the right hand of the Father, sustaining all things through His Word, bestowing grace and mercy to all who call on His name.

What manner of people are we if we give only to those who can give back to us? Should we not instead give freely, expecting nothing in return? For as God gives freely to us, we ought to give freely to others. In the same way, as He is merciful to us, we ought to be merciful unto others.

O how great is our God to have blessed us with the truth of His love. He is so kind and gentle toward us. His mercies never fail. He saved us while we were yet sinners, therefore be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.

You do not have to fight your own battles, for the Lord said, “Vengeance is mine; I will repay.” If our enemies hear silence from us, then they ought to fear, for that is when God is preparing a response on our behalf.

“The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.”

(Exodus 14:14)

No manner of threat to our lives can sway us from believing Jesus is our Lord and Savior. Others may torment us, they may persecute us, and they may throw us into the fire, but if God is for us, who can be against us?

Whatever sufferings we may endure at the hands of our persecutors, they will know, they cannot take away our salvation through Christ. All their works, He will count as dross. None of them shall escape.

Our hope rests in the Lord. He will take care of our enemies. He will intervene on our behalf. No affliction is greater than God’s judgment, for it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. The Lord will fight for you.

Put your trust in the Lord and He will not fail you. He will rescue you in your time of trouble. His mercies endure forever and His love for you will never cease. No one can come between you and God’s love, for He has no end of days or fear of night.

The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.

(Psalms 145:8-9)

God has given His Son Jesus so that we might live abundant lives, free from the torment of sin. Jesus is the only way to God the Father. Through Him, we have mercy; through Him, we have grace; and through Him, we have God’s love living in our hearts and minds.

O how great is our God to have given us such mercies as to want us to dwell with Him forever. By His grace, we have life. By His Spirit, we have peace. His Word is a lamp to our path, a light to our journey home.

Fear not what others may do to you, for they may trouble your body. Hope in the Lord instead, and He will settle your mind. He will not abandon us. If we seek him with all our hearts, He will never leave us nor forsake us, for the Lord is gracious and merciful.

O how easy it is for this world’s trouble to ensnare us. We would be as a ship without a rudder, drifting from place to place at sea. Without hope, anxiety reigns. Yet with Jesus, we have true peace, brimful and running over.

“And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

(Colossians 3:14-15)

Place your trust in God, and He will give you rest from this world’s trouble. No longer will we need to chase after the wind of activity that surrounds our lives. He will fill us with hope, which will settle our minds and our hearts. He will give us lasting peace.

We can do all things through Jesus. He gave Himself up so that we might live. What life is it if we seek to honor Him by striving after that which dishonors Him? True repentance is turning from sin and doing what He taught. Only then will we have a quieted mind.

Seek God’s will and look to Him for relief. He will not fail us. His trouble weighs less than what the world holds. Give ear to His voice and lift your eyes to the Lord, for He is good. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts.

If we open our hearts to God in true repentance, asking for forgiveness of our sins, doing what is right in His eyes and trusting Him with everything we have, He will not forsake us. He will be our God forever, and He will give us everlasting life through Jesus Christ our savior.

“Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”

(Isaiah 26:4)

This life is a vapor. In the blink of an eye, all of this will fade away. God has promised us, though, that He will remember us. He will raise us from the grave, give us the crown of glory for which we have desired, and we will reign with Him forever.

Even more so, we are to judge the angels. If we are to inherit such power, what manner of people ought we to be? Be kind toward one another. Give hope to brothers and sisters who bear sorrow in their heart. Show mercy always as the Lord has shown mercy to us.

When someone asks us of our hope, proclaim the good news of Christ’s life, death and resurrection and the coming kingdom, which will one day rain down from heaven as water pours from a cloud. Give hope to others and trust in the Lord always.

Do you believe God will not leave you or forsake you? You do well, for He has given His Son Jesus so that you may live. He will not allow sin to choke the very hope that is in you. His deliverance is as sure as the sun rises and the sun sets.

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

(Psalms 46:1-3)

Our enemies may cause us to stumble. That ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, may raise walls against us. Fear not and take heart, for God Himself will provide you a way of escape. All will one day bow their knees to the Eternal. Not a one shall escape His judgment.

Our God made the heavens and the earth. He made all that is. Has the sun so vanished from the sky? Has the ocean dried up from shore to shore? Be it far from us! Then how difficult would it be for God to send an angel of light to pull us from the mire? No other God can do that.

God’s plan will not fail. We will not fall short of the purpose for which He has created us. He will purge our lives of the sin that seeks to ensnare us. He will defeat our enemies. They will drop to their knees. God is our refuge and strength.