“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

When we come to God, He begins His work in our lives transforming us into the image of Jesus Christ. As He begins this work, He reminds us that He is with us and as things change, we are not to be afraid. Change can easily bring fear. What calms our fears is the presence of one who loves us. When a father, who lovingly takes time to show how to do something, it helps to calm the fears of failure. He is there to guide, correct and repeat as we learn. We have this type of relationship with God. He is present during our learning how to follow Jesus. “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’” (Romans 8:15) This Father-Son relationship was shown as Jesus was in the midst of His death for our sin. He called to His Father from the cross with trust as He died. “Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.’ When he had said this, he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46) It is in the same confidence when we pray “Our Father.” (Matthew 6:9)

As we grow in our relationship with God, He is there to help and strengthen us. The Holy Spirit, who comes into our lives as we put our faith in Jesus Christ, is called the paraklētos, which is translated, “advocate”, “counselor” or “helper”. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV) He is our teacher who instructs us in how to live and helps us to apply what we have been taught.  Then He reminds us how to continue and develop as we grow.

Jesus is present in our lives and helps us when we face temptation. He understands being tempted. “For this reason, he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.” (Hebrews 2:17-18)

God is our helper in times of need, where He shows us His grace. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) God also provides the strength we need as we live this life. “I can do all this through him who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:19)

With God at work in our lives, He is holding us in His righteousness. Jesus took our sin to give us His righteousness. “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5:21) He is working in our lives to develop righteousness. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24) By faith we are to live maturing in righteousness. “For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)

When we first come to God, we bring nothing to Him except our sin. Before us was judgment for our sin, which is death. This death is eternal separation from God. God, in His love, sent Jesus to take the judgment for our sin. Then through the resurrection He offers us life, which is eternal. The longer we live in this hope, the more we come to know the abundance of what life is in a restored relationship with Him. As we learn, this is just the beginning of what God has for us. “However, as it is written: ‘What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived — the things God has prepared for those who love him’—these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10) In this life we learn as God changes us, and molds us, He is conforming us into the image of the Son of God, Jesus Christ. May we learn everyday more of the wonder of our life which we are receiving from God.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block