“Do Not Be Afraid…!”

“Do Not Be Afraid …!”
A little boy was doing acrobatics with his father. His father used to throw him high up, spin him in very dangerous moves. One time a journalist asked him whether he was not afraid that he could lose his life. He replied, “I’m not afraid because I know my dad cannot allow any harm to come to me.”
The phrases “fear not” and “do not be afraid” are quite recurrent in the Bible. Yet we spend time being afraid of the devil and his agents instead of being confident and courageous that we have a Father who will make sure that no harm should come to us.
Funnily enough most of the time those fears are unfounded. They are more imaginary and illusory than real.
Jesus sends us out on mission fully aware that he is sending us “out like sheep among wolves.” But he assures us, “…do not be afraid of them… Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
As the struggle in the anglophone regions escalates some of us have self-declared some places “no go zones” just because we are afraid; as if there is any safe place if death actually has to strike.
Jesus knows that we risk being killed, but if we die in the line of duty it would be more honourable than dieing for nothing; because no matter how much we fear for our lives, one day the inevitable will occur all the same! One day we will die!
Those who are hostile to us have power only over our flesh, not our souls. All the same, we have to be “as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves. Running away from the mission field is like disowning Jesus before men (Mtt.10:26-33).
My friend, we live in a hostile world but like the little boy, do not fear the antics of evil men. The Lord Jesus Christ has your back! “So do not be afraid of them.”
Prayer of the week: Lord, give me the courage not to be afraid of men because you are watching my back. Amen!
Welcome to a new working week. Have a blessed day and week! Peace be with you!