October 9, 2016 NO FEAR
Psalm 23:4: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”
Fear is a dreadful companion to live with. There are numerous things to fear: sickness, death, financial loss, unemployment, divorce, war, civil unrest, accidents, being rejected by others- and the list goes on. At times, a sense of fear ‘form out of the blue’ may come upon us for no apparent reason. Living with fear is living in bondage. David, the writer of the twenty third Psalm, had much to fear, but because of his sure trust in God, and because he knew God, fear did not overcome him. Even though we are surrounded with a seemingly unending list of things that could cause us to fear, God has made a way for us to experience life free of fear. A truth that is key to living without fear, is expressed in just four words-“Thou art with me.” Knowing that the creator God, the ruler of the universe, and the God who is all powerful, is ‘with us’ personally, is the sure antidote for fear. Another essential truth that takes away fear is knowing and experiencing the love of God, as seen in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” It is accurate to say that if we are experiencing fear, it is because we do not know in the deepest part of our being that God is with us and we do not yet know His great love for us. Also, by not knowing and experiencing God’s forgiveness for us results in a life of bondage, and one aspect of bondage is fear. Just by living on planet earth, we will continually be surrounded by those things that could cause one to fear, and God is well aware of that fact. However, God, in His love has made provision for His people to live life without being subject to fear, and that provision is His presence, His love for us, and His total forgiveness for us. We will face difficult times, we will see devastation all around us, and we witness what life is like when people reject God, but because we know that He is with us, we are able to live without fear! We can live with the perspective that even though we may not understand why things are as they are, or why people act as they do, or why we experience trials, but no matter what takes place around us, God is faithful and His abiding presence with us enables us to live free of fear.
John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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