United Church of God

Letter From Dan Dowd - February 10, 2023

Letter From Dan Dowd

February 10, 2023

Sabbath Thought - Fear Not

We - as individuals, as a nation, as a church - are living through some very rough times.  Never before have we seen the whole world shut down.  Never before have we seen our country more divided - politically, morally, and economically.  Historic moral standards have been jettisoned in politics, business, marriage, gender, and sex.  Authority is denigrated and anarchy is acceptable.  Christianity is seen as repressive, dangerous to society and holding moral progress back.  Anger is replete and only serves to make all of the above even worse.  What should we do and think as a people of God?

How in the world can we have joy with the world tearing itself apart around us?  We should have joy in spite of the chaos around us.  Our joy should come from our calling and knowing what will come out of the chaos we see, and joy in knowing what God is doing in the lives of each and everyone one of us - and the hope He holds out for all of mankind.

As an example, it can be easy to think that Jesus Christs' physical life was a life of nothing but hard times.  There were hard times for sure, but there was joy in His life (Hebrews 12:2).  Christ died an awful death through scourging and crucifixion.  He was seemingly constantly harassed by the Pharisees and Sadducees.  How in the world could His life have joy?  Do you think He loved His mother and step-father?  Do you think He loved His siblings?  Were they happy?  He attended weddings.  He not only spent time with extended family, He selected some to be His disciples.  Christ was happy to be our sacrifice - because He knew what that accomplishes!

Satan has filled this world with fear - because when people are filled with fear they can be manipulated.  But we are the people of God!  We are not to be driven by fear (2 Timothy 1:7, 1 John 4:18), so how do we have a love that is impervious to fear?  By having Godly joy (Romans 14:17, 15:13, James 1:2)!  Fear is of Satan.  Jesus addressed this topic of fear a number of times with His disciples, and one of the most encouraging statements He made is recorded in Luke 12:32 - "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

True Joy - Godly Joy - does not come from trying to control what happens around us, but rather by focusing on the positives of the calling God has given to each of us.  This is the joy Jesus Christ had.  We have the Pearl of Great Price - we know the meaning of this life and want the life God is offering as part of His family.  God's pleasure is to give us His kingdom if we desire to become like Him.

We face all manner of trials in our lives.  Those trials are for our edification, and to help us take on the nature of God.  Do we have joy in that process?  We should, because of what awaits us - what God has promised to His faithful.  Have Joy!  In all that we go through in this life, may we never lose the joy we have in God.  Fear not!

I wish you a very wonderful Sabbath,

Dan Dowd

10 February, 2023