Fearless

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel," (Ephesians 6:19)

One word stands out to me from this passage more than the others. Fearlessly. More specifically 'fearless' what does it mean to be without fear? What does that look like? 1John 4:18 tells us, 

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

Think of it as fire and water, when a fire starts in a house or building we call the fire department and they come in with their big trucks and high pressure hoses to pour water on the fire to put it out. Water and fire cannot coexist. Either the water douses the fire thus extinguishing it, or the fire scorches the water causing it to evaporate.

love           /       water
fear        /          fire

They cancel each other out.

So, if we are afraid of something then that must mean loving that thing is out of the question.

     What does self-fear look like?
Internal fear may be different for each person, common themes include;

• second-guessing ourselves
• low self-esteem

• putting our needs dead last

• refusal to leave our comfort-zone
• not trusting God's promise for our lives

     What does self-love look like?
• confidence in ourselves and God's work in our lives
• increased self-worth
•proper structure of priorities
(others before self yet addressing our own needs)
• confidence in God's promise

"And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭5-8‬ NIV)

Where does fearlessness start?

Fearlessness must start within ourselves, we must first learn to love ourselves as God loves us and accept His love for us. After we have accepted the never ending love of Christ in our life the next step is to abide in that love. We can't find Jesus' love 8AM on Monday then forget by dinner. His love doesn't last for just hours or days at a time, it doesn't run out at the end of the week or the turn of the month. He doesn't come and go with the seasons or just show up during the holidays. His love is unconditional, unrelenting, and unmatched. Love isn't a one-and-done kind of deal, it is a continual process. Jesus loves us so much that "While we were still sinn[ing, He] died for us." How crazy in love is that? Once we come to grips with Hos unfailing love, then we can know fearlessness of self and that is when we start affecting those around us.