Once you have been reconciled to God, you need fear nothing. He will take care of you.

A. Some sin because of Pain

You have been hurt. The world has become a lonely and sad place for you. And the only time you feel better is when you are alone with your sin. You feel better when you eat, or drink, or look at that computer screen.

I have experimented with very addictive behaviors and I know how it feels when the only time you feel good is when you sin.

Now in the light I want to ask you, does it really make you feel better. Or does it lead to greater shame and isolation?

Don’t be afraid of life, don’t be afraid to let go of your sin so that you can latch on to the only one who really loves you.

B. Some of you sin because of fear.

Why don’t you give more generously? Why don’t you give to the church or give freely to the poor? Is it because you are greedy and mean? I don’t believe you all cheer for Ebenezer Scrooge.

The reason we are not more generous is we are afraid. If we give our money away we have no security, we might not be able to withstand the next down turn. Or we won’t be able to buy the next thing that pops up. If we give our money away we won’t be able to say yes every time our friends ask us to come out with them.

Don’t be afraid, God will provide for you.

Do not fear rejection.

We obsess over our appearance, and refuse to do anything that might make us look bad. Or we simply shrink back and refuse to reach out in ministry because we are afraid we might get noticed. We can’t have people over to our house because it might not be perfect and someone might think bad of us.

God himself has made you his daughter, do not fear.

Do not fear regret.

Some of us are afraid we might miss out on that next good time. We believe there is an apocalyptic party out there, and if we miss it we will never be complete.

Do not fear, if you have Christ you have not missed a thing.

Granddaddy, were you afraid. Son, I was so afraid that nothing has frightened me since.

Turn all of your fears toward God. Fear missing him, fear losing him, fear not having enough of him. And let him relieve all of your fears.

Make this line of the most famous hymn of them all your anthem:

Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved.