Followers of Jesus need not fear.

Psalm 23:4 — “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

2 Timothy 1:7 — “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”

Hebrews 13:6 — “So we can confidently say, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?’”

Followers of Jesus do not hate.

Proverbs 10:12 — “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all offenses.”

1 John 2:9 — “Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.”

Matthew 5:43–44 — “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Followers of Jesus are peacemakers.

Matthew 5:9 — “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”

James 3:17–18 — “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

2 Corinthians 13:11 — “Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”

Ephesians 4:2–3 — “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Followers of Jesus bring light and hope to the darkness.

(When the world is at its darkest, the light of Christ in you can shine the brightest. In other words, the Jesus way of peace, love, and hope will stand out and make the greatest difference when things are at their most chaotic.)

John 8:12 — “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’”

Matthew 5:14–16 — “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Followers of Jesus acknowledge this world is broken and under the curse of sin.

Romans 3:10-12 –  “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.”

1 John 5:19 — “We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.”

2 Corinthians 4:4 — “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

For followers of Jesus, our battle is not political, ideological, moral, etc. … it is spiritual.

Ephesians 6:12 — “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

Colossians 2:15 — “He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.”

Followers of Jesus take comfort that this world is not our home.

1 Peter 2:11 — (paraphrase) Followers of Jesus are sojourners and exiles in this world.

John 17:14–16 — “I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.”