No Fear in Christ

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 16:2-3, And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” But the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you, and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ 3 Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do; you shall anoint for Me the one I name to you.”

Samuel’s statement to the LORD says a lot about the state that Saul was in. It is obvious that the king had become a bitter man who no longer feared God. This is exactly what happens to us when we refuse to repent, when we hold on to our pride and become stubborn with God. Because God is gracious and patient, we cross the line and begin to make decisions, and live, with no fear of what God is capable of doing to us, or what He is capable of allowing. On the other side of that coin we see the fear Samuel experienced in the possibility that Saul would find out what he was doing, and kill him. This is what I would like us to address and focus on. On this side of Heaven, we will encounter situations that cause us to fear. This fear will either drive us forward or paralyze us. The fear that Samuel felt is one that has the power to potentially stop us in our tracks as we serve the LORD. Here we see a living example of what Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.” More often than not we hesitate, and even change our minds, about doing something we know God is sending us to do because we fear ridicule, the persecution or some kind of personal loss. We allow the devils to convince us that things will not work out, and that going forward will only be to our hurt. Samuel was fearing his own demise. There are situations, even in walking with, and serving, Jesus, where we may fear losing our lives. However, Hebrews 2:14-15 clearly states, “Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.” 2 Timothy 1:7 reminds us that in Jesus we have power over fear, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” As we draw closer to reading about and studying the life of David, we know that before he was officially installed as king of Israel, he experienced many moments of fear. One of the Psalms he wrote is used quite often at funerals. However, this Psalm is a wonderful reminder that we need not fear when we find ourselves in the dark valleys. We, as God’s children, can find great comfort in times of fear in Psalm 23:4 where it promises, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” When we begin to feel the onset of fear, in any given situation, we need to ask ourselves the questions found in 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?” In the case of Samuel, the LORD gave him specific instruction as to how he was to proceed. We may not hear the audible voice of God to give us instructions when we are serving Him, but we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us to guide us using the Word of God, and we have 24/7 access to God, in Christ, whenever we are seeking His guidance and direction. If we are going to fear, let us have a reverent fear of God, for that kind of fear is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10).

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).