Do Not Be Afraid

By David A. Sargent

    One summer night during a severe thunderstorm, a mother was tucking her small son into bed.  She was about to turn the light off when he asked in a trembling voice, “Mommy, will you stay with me all night?”
    Smiling, the mother gave him a warm, reassuring hug and said tenderly, “I can't, Dear.  I have to sleep in Daddy's room.”
    A long silence followed.  At last it was broken by a shaky voice saying, “The big sissy!” *
    Of what are you afraid?  Truth be told, we’re all “sissies” about something.
    Yet, the most often repeated command in Scripture is “Do not be afraid,” or “Do not fear.”

• “So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:31
• “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” – Matthew 8:26
• “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.  For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’  So we may boldly say: ‘The LORD is my helper; I will not fear.  What can man do to me?’” – Hebrews 13:5-6

    God doesn’t want us to live our lives in fear.
    A man, as he was walking on the street, saw a black cat crossing over the road.  He thought to himself that he was going to have a bad luck on that day.  Worried, he asked his friend what would be his fate because of the black cat that had crossed his path in the morning.  His friend replied, "That will depend on whether you are a rat or not." *
    Know who you are in Christ and you will not fear.
    In Christ, you are: a child of God (Galatians 3:26-27), an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ (Romans 8:16-17), saved by the Savior (Matthew 1:21), redeemed by the Rescuer (Ephesians 1:7), justified by the Justifier (Romans 3:23-26), and forgiven by the Great Forgiver (1 John 1:7-9).
    To be found “in Christ,” in whom are found all spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3), you must place your faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from your sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and be baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  Then, as you continue to walk in the light of His Word, the blood of Jesus will continue to cleanse you from sin (1 John 1:7).
    In Christ, there is salvation, security, strength, and hope.  There is no reason to fear.
    Won’t YOU trust and obey Christ so that you may be found in Him?

- David A. Sargent, minister for the Church of Christ at Creekwood in Mobile, Alabama, is also the editor of an electronic devotional entitled "Living Water."  To learn more about this excellent resource contact David via their website: http://www.creekwoodcc.org

* From sermon illustrations at www.bible.org