Month: November 2024

Fear Not

Bible scholars say the instruction to “fear not” appears 365 times in scripture (once for every day of the year). I have not counted them myself, but I have encountered that instruction often while reading my Bible, so I will take their word for the frequency of those words. Why does God repeat that instruction so often in His word?

I believe it is more than an instruction for us to follow; it is also a warning of the dangers of fear. When the enemy (Satan) can embed fear in our mind, he takes our attention away from God and our service for Him. Simon Peter took a leap of faith when he stepped out of the boat and began walk on the water toward Jesus. He was making progress until he took his eyes off of Jesus and saw the storm raging around him. Fear caused him to sink and call out to ask Jesus to save him. How many times has fear of what is going on around you embedded itself in your mind and distracted you from the progress you were making in your calling service for our Lord?

Several years ago I wrote about an episode I had with fear of falling on my basement steps. Even after God saved me and got me to safety, the fear remained embedded in my mind for several days until God sent a specific verse of scripture and the line of a gospel song that replaced that fear with peace. So whatever is going on around you, my brother or sister, fear not and keep your concentration on our Lord who is always with you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Real Freedom

There is freedom in my Christian life that cannot be seen or understood by someone who has not experienced it. I have friends who refuse to attend any church because they don’t want anyone to tell them to clean up their language or change their lifestyle, even God. They feel that religion is a cage people climb into for safety that limits them from saying or acting in a way that expresses their true feelings. It would keep them from “being real”. They have allowed their blunt language or lifestyle to become a part of their identity. Any attempt to change them is a personal attack.

Seventy years in service to God and those around me under the guidance of the Bible and the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit within my heart has set me free. In the words of one of my favorite songs. “I’m free from the fear of tomorrow, free from the guilt of the past. I’ve traded my shackles for a glorious song. I’m free, praise the Lord, free at last.” How can I sing those words when the commandments and warnings of scripture and the Holy Spirit are clear? It is actually quite simple. It is the difference between guard rails and fences. My friends described above have no problem obeying warning signs (a solid yellow line on the highway, red light, don’t walk, etc.)  nor do they object about safety barriers to protect them physically, but when they see the spiritual warnings and barriers of the Bible or the obedient Christian life, all they see are fences that would restrict them instead of warn them of spiritual dangers.

God doesn’t want to control us, if he did, he would not have given us free will. He wants to keep his sons and daughters safe physically and spiritually until He calls us home to be with Him forever.