Acts 18:9-10 - Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; “for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.”
Hebrews 13:6 - So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Each of these verses, as well as several others, teach that as Christians we should not be afraid. We can know that God is with us and will watch over us. Even in the face of opposition, do not be afraid. Do not be a coward. Have the courage to do what is right and live for God.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the man who received one talent hid his talent rather than using it as his master had intended. When his master questioned him he said, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). The master called him a wicked, lazy, and unprofitable servant. This was a man who was afraid to use what was given to him.
We should not be afraid to use what has been given to us in God’s service. The talents and opportunities we are given should be used to serve God zealously. Some fear what other might think. If they really devote themselves to God, others might think they are fanatical. Instead of using everything they have for God, they hold back because they fear the pressure of society.
Others hesitate to do good because they fear getting involved. Man’s history is full of tragic events that could have been avoided if someone had been willing to do good. A girl is killed when people hearing her cries refused to help. A man suffers a fatal heart attach on a busy sidewalk with hundreds of people passing by but refusing to help. “It’s not my problem. I don’t want to get involved.” The Lord tells us to get involved.
Hebrews 13:6 - So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”
Psalm 27:1 - The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?
Each of these verses, as well as several others, teach that as Christians we should not be afraid. We can know that God is with us and will watch over us. Even in the face of opposition, do not be afraid. Do not be a coward. Have the courage to do what is right and live for God.
In the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the man who received one talent hid his talent rather than using it as his master had intended. When his master questioned him he said, “And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground” (Matthew 25:25). The master called him a wicked, lazy, and unprofitable servant. This was a man who was afraid to use what was given to him.
We should not be afraid to use what has been given to us in God’s service. The talents and opportunities we are given should be used to serve God zealously. Some fear what other might think. If they really devote themselves to God, others might think they are fanatical. Instead of using everything they have for God, they hold back because they fear the pressure of society.
Others hesitate to do good because they fear getting involved. Man’s history is full of tragic events that could have been avoided if someone had been willing to do good. A girl is killed when people hearing her cries refused to help. A man suffers a fatal heart attach on a busy sidewalk with hundreds of people passing by but refusing to help. “It’s not my problem. I don’t want to get involved.” The Lord tells us to get involved.
Matthew 25:41-46 - 41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:42 ‘for I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink;43 ‘I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’44 “Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’45 “Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.’46 “And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
There is nothing to indicate these people had committed any terrible evil. They had simply failed to do good. “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin” (James 4:17).
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to consider things of which we, as Christians, should not be afraid.
--Lamar
Over the next few weeks, we will continue to consider things of which we, as Christians, should not be afraid.
--Lamar
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