Exhortation

Peter’s readers had a lot to fear, but Peter tells them not to fear.  More precisely, as Pastor Sumpter will point out in his sermon, Peter tells his readers not to “fear their fear,” not to fear as their opponents fear.

In the passage that Peter quotes, Isaiah warns Israel not to get caught up in the frenzy of anxiety envelops them.  The Bible talks about conspiracies.  Absalom plots against David, Zimri against Elah, Jehoiada against Atahalia.  But Isaiah warns the people, Don’t call a plot what everyone else calls a plot.  Do not fear what they fear.

How does Peter reassure his readers?  Most fundamentally, he reminds them of the gospel.  Christ died once, and was made alive in the Spirit.  He is now at the right hand of God, having subjected angels and authorities and powers to Him.  Therefore, do not fear.

For the past year, many American Christians have been fearful about the direction the country has been taking under President Obama.  This past week, many of those same Christians were relieved by the Senate victory of Scott Brown in Massachusetts.  There are certainly good reasons to oppose Obama’s agenda, but both the fear and the relief are misdirected.

When things seem to be spiraling out of control in your own life or in the world around you, don’t take your cues from the headlines.  Don’t get caught up in the frenzy.  Instead, remember Jesus.  Fear is highly contagious, and only the gospel inoculates against it.