Simplest Terms – Do not be Afraid!

Mom was headed down the hallway to our bathroom.  I might add that she was walking once again without her walker.  Seeing her instability, I quickly came up behind her as she waddled, tottered and teetered to the room.  I had my arms out behind her  – ready to catch her!  As she was shuffling, she reached out for each light switch and turned on the lights.  I noticed that she absolutely would not step if there was not sufficient light.  As we entered the bathroom she paused at the doorway and reached her hand around the door jam.  The bathroom was dark, stretching out her arm she found the switch and the room was illuminated – she entered the room.  I commented on what she was doing and she said, “Well, I’m not going into a dark room!  You never know what might jump out at ya!”  I smiled to myself.  I was not surprised by this statement. Fear has been a part of her life and the women in my family for generations.  It’s gripping, paralyzing and frankly ungodly.  But it is real.  I have been on a journey to replace this generational sin for faith!  Two of my favorite verses in regard to fear:

“For God has not given us a spirit of timidity(fear) but of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)  

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. (I John 4:18)

In my opinion, there are two types of fear.  The fear of trembling, shaking and rule your emotions, terror fear and then the “fear the Lord” type of fear.  You know the type of fear that is spoken of in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  It is the type of fear that evokes awe and respect for the mightiness or authority and power that someone possesses.  This latter fear is the fear I want to possess.   The night of our Saviors birth the shepherds went from one type of fear to the right type of fear in a matter of moments.

^“8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; ¹¹ for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ¹³ And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” Luke 2:8-14

They were frightened out of their minds!  Terror gripped them!  Who could blame them?  There they were minding their own business, just another night in the fields, tending the sheep and an angel of the LORD appears and the “glory of the Lord” was shining all around them.  So they went from darkness to brighter than day and an angel saying quickly, “Do not be afraid!”  I would have been terrified!    After all of these years of reading this story, I am still astounded.  The message of the angel was from our LORD.  He had a very simple message.  They needed to listen.  The angel spoke with urgency and with important simplicity so that these common ordinary men would understand there need not be any fear – just simple obedience to what they heard!  This good news was for all the people every where.  The “good news of great joy” was the change moment in all of history!  The message was given to the most common – shepherds  – and to the most influential –  three pagan wise men of Persia!  WOW!  

Do we have the good news living in our hearts?  If we do, the angel of the Lord would say to us, “Do not be afraid!”  We have no need to fear anything – for that baby, grown up to be a man – crucified and risen is living in our hearts by His spirit.  You and I should have no fear of what man can do to us or what event or experience might come our way – He knows us and He is faithful to complete what He has started!  You are His – Live like it!

Until tomorrow!