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[0:00] A pastor's reflections, fearless love. Exodus 30, verse 9. Isaiah 41, 10.

[0:15] Fear thou not, for I am with thee. Be not dismayed, for I am thy God. I will strengthen thee. Yes, I will help thee. Yes, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

[0:28] 1 John 4, 18. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. Fear is a great motivator. There are many events throughout history that were the direct result of fear, moving people to actions and decisions that they otherwise would never have made.

[0:49] Even in instances where we know that fear is irrational, we can still find ourselves moved along by the very real and very intense emotion of fear. In Exodus chapter 30, God has just instructed Moses in the construction and function of the altar of incense.

[1:07] The altar of incense was to be a place where God would symbolically receive the prayers of his people. God would accept the aroma of burning incense as it arose off the altar in the tabernacle, due to the atoning blood being placed upon the horns of the altar.

[1:26] However, even though God accepted the incense and the prayers, the priest was still responsible for offering the incense according to God's timing and God's method. The priest did not have the authority to make up his own method or to modify God's method.

[1:43] There was always hanging over the priest the fear of messing up or making a mistake. For you and I, we often approach God with the same mindset as an Old Testament priest.

[1:55] We are thankful to be allowed to draw near. We appreciate the privilege we have to dwell with God, but we are a bit apprehensive that we will mess something up or do something wrong.

[2:08] 1 John 4, 18 and 19 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love.

[2:21] We love him because he first loved us. Fear is a great motivator, but fear is also a great destroyer of trust. It is very hard to trust something you are afraid of.

[2:34] God has removed the fear from our relationship with him by sending his son to be the perfect high priest to perform all things on our behalf. Jesus accomplished everything exactly as was required in his role as high priest.

[2:50] And the result is that you and I now need never live under the fear of judgment or of messing up. All of our mistakes were covered by atonement at the cross.

[3:00] And the result is that we can now come to God in love, not fear. Today, don't allow fear to motivate your relationship with God. Remember, Jesus has cast out fear with love.

[3:15] Father, thank you that all requirements for our peace were accomplished by the one and only high priest who had the capacity to do all things well.

[3:26] Thank you that fear has been replaced by love and that love now motivates our relationship with you. Help us today to display a fearless love to the world around us.

[3:38]  Amen. Amen.