Society is divided these days with much fear present. This daily devotional, written by Pastor Steve, looks at what the real issue should be.
Devotions in the Pastor Steve Sermon Series
Pastor Steve has written a devotion that is timely. It goes a long way to turning us around to how God wants us to live.
Let’s see what Pastor Steve has to say.
Pastor Steve Wrote
I was perusing Facebook this evening, as I too often do at times, and I happened upon a post on the Laughing Christian page. Now, I don’t even remember that the comic was about, but one woman stirred up a hornet’s nest of fear response like I’ve never seen.
This woman made a comment on this post, something to the effect that she just prayed that her adult children can find spouses who are not “vaxxed.” The implication was that something else is afoot now with the COVID vaccine and mating with someone who is vaxxed is somehow the new problematic thing to worry about.
This of course, caused a launch of what can only be described a thread of fear running rampant. Everyone who commented had their own pet conspiracy. Everyone who commented had their own take on what to worry about. And everyone was bathing completely in the fear that the devil has helped unleash upon the world.
Salvation Beats Fear
I read through several of the comments and the thing that amazed me is that no one person said anything about salvation in Jesus. All were presumably church-going Christian people, but they were certainly not only drinking the fear flavored Kool-Aid, but they were going back for extra helpings.
No matter what side of the issue you fall on, (vax yes, vax no) we must remember what the Apostle Paul wrote to young pastor Timothy. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1: 7 NKJV)
God has not given us the spirit of fear. That being the case, where does fear come from? It comes from the enemy of our souls. That’s who. And people who call themselves Christians are afraid to do most everything now, because of the scare tactics that the devil is filling us with on COVID.
What Replaces Fear
We need to pay attention to this verse in what it says that God HAS given us… “power and love and of a sound mind.” A sound mind does not operate in fear.
Sure, there’s such a thing as rational fear, but most of the fear surrounding COVID can often be classified in the hysteria category. I’ve had plenty of friends who’ve gotten it, and a couple have almost died, so yes, I’m well aware of the possibility.
But you see, there nothing good in hysterical fear. Plus, it shows that we have more faith in what we are afraid of than we are supposed to have in God. You are, in effect, saying that the devil has more power than God by believing in the fear he casts about and hopes to control your life by it.
Pay attention to what the Apostle Peter wrote “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (I Pet. 5: 8 NKJV)
The devil is creating all this fear so that he can get you to take your eyes off of God. He will eat your lunch if he can.
Glossary
The Roar of Fear
If you know anything about lions, then you know that one of their weapons to catch prey is their fierce roar. It is said that they have such a loud ominous roar that it causes their pray freeze in fear so that they can be more easily pounced upon and eaten.
Does that not sound like that the fear the devil is causing right now?
The Bible tells us: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (I Jn. 4: 4 ESV).
It also says: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps. 27: 1 ESV).
Is there anything too hard for our God? Is it not possible that He can watch over you and keep you from harm? Remember my last post? Jesus is in ALL things!
To read a related devotion, click the button below.
If He is in ALL things, then how can we be afraid of a virus that is loose in this world? How can we let fear drive us so insanely away from our friends, our loved ones and shall I be so bold as to say our sanity?
God knows the exact moment you are going to die. He has known that from the time you were conceived. If it is your time to pass from this world into the next, is there anything you can do about it? Is there any way for you to stop God’s will? Nope, there isn’t.
This fear that is running rampant in our world is of the devil. It’s meant to keep us from keeping our eyes on God and doing the things He’s called us to do.
If you are truly saved and know Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you have absolutely nothing of which to be afraid. Nothing can touch you in His hand. Nothing.
And nothing is going to happen to you that is outside of God’s will for your life. Nothing.
If you remember when the disciples were in a boat crossing to the other side of the sea and Jesus came walking out to them on the water, you will remember that Peter asked Him to allow him to walk out to Him on the water. So Jesus told Him to come (Mt. 14: 22-33).
Peter did great the first few steps out to Jesus, but the moment he took his eyes off of Jesus and put them on the waves he was walking on, he sank. Jesus had to reach out to him and grab him to keep him from drowning. Jesus asked Peter, “Why did you doubt?”
Making the Connections
My friends, this is a prime example of what is going on in the world right now. We have taken our eyes off of Jesus and are looking at the waves of the storm around us.
And we are sinking in this sea of fear.
May I ask, why are you doubting? Why are you losing faith in Jesus? Is there anything too hard for him to take care of?
How Do We Apply This?
Do you understand why all of this is going on? As Christians, Jesus told us to go into all of the world and make disciples of all men (Matt. 28: 19).
How much are we going to be out there fulfilling the call to do that, if we are hiding, scared that we are going to pick up the COVID virus? How much are we going to do that if we have our eyes set on the storm and not on the upward call of Christ Jesus?
I am asking you to seek God please, please. Draw near to Him. Keep your eyes on things above and not on this earth.
For this is His will for you in Christ Jesus. Let’s take as many souls to heaven with us as we can in this short life of ours and stop worrying about what the devil is doing. He’s God’s problem, not ours.
Almighty God in heaven, I pray for everyone who is reading this right now to be filled with a spirit of power, love, and a sound mind that Your Word talks about. Help us to rightly fulfill the call upon us and to boldly walk the path that you set us on with out fear. In your Son Jesus’ name. Amen.
What do you think?
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