(I'm a slow writer hoping to write a short daily blog. I wrote this on a Monday and didn't find the time to post it until Friday. I'm going to attempt to write shorter less edited posts to try to get a daily turn around of the messages out.)
A verse popped out at me during today's daily readings for Catholics. It comes from Romans, chapter 8.
"For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father. "
- Romans 8:15
Chapter 8 is a great chapter. Paul is writing with great clarity here. It's very uplifting to know we've received a spirit of adoption. But the first half of this verse is what struck me today.
"...you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear..."
I take great joy in the courage God gives me; in the courage He wants to give to all His people. All the fear mongering that masquerades as religion nowadays disturbs me deeply.
Using God's name to manipulate people through fear seems to me to be one of the ways to commit the unpardonable sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. This verse seems to be a shield against people attempting to manipulate us with fear. We've received a spirit of adoption. Our heavenly Father sends us love and courage. His "perfect love casts out fear".* Cast out these messages of fear and embrace the love of God that unites us as children of God, Abba, our Father.
* “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.” - 1 John 4:18
