Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord (Jer. 1:8).
The visitor to Westminster Abbey sees many memorials to greet people, but there is no nobler tribute than that inscribed on the monument to Lord Lawrence--simply his name, the date of his death, and these words: "He feared man so little because he feared God so much."
Be afraid to be afraid! Conceit and pride are to be dreaded, but so is cowardice. Severe punishment is given to soldiers guilty of "cowardice in the face of the enemy." Fear is one of Satan's chief weapons, and when it enters the heart, we are in danger of falling into sin. The apostle Peter was overcome with fear and denied that he had ever known his Lord (Matt. 26:69-75).
Do they threaten you? Then it is time for boldness. "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word" (Acts 4:29).
Should we ever "be afraid of a man that shall die" (Isa. 51:12)? Are you afraid of losing your position? God will never suffer His servants to "want any good thing" (Ps. 34:10).
Do they ridicule you? Scorn and ridicule never killed God's servants of old (Job 16:20). Remember, Daniel stood alone in the lion's den when it would have been easier to go along with the crowd. The three young men on the plain of Dura stood for a conviction when it meant discord with the public orchestra.
So let us fear to fear. God said to Jeremiah, "Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them" (Jer. 1:17).
And what reason we have for bravery! "I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord." So let us fall on our knees and cry for help. Then, armed with this promise, we can rise up saying, "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Ps. 23:4).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me" (Ps. 7:1).
The visitor to Westminster Abbey sees many memorials to greet people, but there is no nobler tribute than that inscribed on the monument to Lord Lawrence--simply his name, the date of his death, and these words: "He feared man so little because he feared God so much."
Be afraid to be afraid! Conceit and pride are to be dreaded, but so is cowardice. Severe punishment is given to soldiers guilty of "cowardice in the face of the enemy." Fear is one of Satan's chief weapons, and when it enters the heart, we are in danger of falling into sin. The apostle Peter was overcome with fear and denied that he had ever known his Lord (Matt. 26:69-75).
Do they threaten you? Then it is time for boldness. "And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word" (Acts 4:29).
Should we ever "be afraid of a man that shall die" (Isa. 51:12)? Are you afraid of losing your position? God will never suffer His servants to "want any good thing" (Ps. 34:10).
Do they ridicule you? Scorn and ridicule never killed God's servants of old (Job 16:20). Remember, Daniel stood alone in the lion's den when it would have been easier to go along with the crowd. The three young men on the plain of Dura stood for a conviction when it meant discord with the public orchestra.
So let us fear to fear. God said to Jeremiah, "Be not dismayed at their faces, lest I confound thee before them" (Jer. 1:17).
And what reason we have for bravery! "I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the Lord." So let us fall on our knees and cry for help. Then, armed with this promise, we can rise up saying, "I will fear no evil: for thou art with me" (Ps. 23:4).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me" (Ps. 7:1).
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