
In today’s American society there seems to be so much fear lingering about. We see so many bad situations taking place throughout our country as we watch the various news and internet broadcasts which are made available to us. Riots, violent demonstrations, and gun shootings have caused people to become quite worrisome in their lives. Where can you or I go, and what can you or I do anymore, that won’t put us in a situation where we may be placing ourselves in jeopardy?
Criminals and crime appear to be wreaking havoc in our towns and on our streets these days.
And because of that, I believe fear has taken hold and become a form of bondage that many people are living under in our world. A person who is letting fear control their life has also let a certain amount of paralysis set in as well. I would be willing to agree we all need to be more cautious in how we interact with the world around us. Yet, it is very difficult to for you and me to enjoy the life God has given us, to enjoy the abundant life Jesus came to bring us, if we are willing to allow ourselves to be mastered by fear!
David was a man who had every reason to be living in fear. First off, he was a shepherd who had to constantly fend of wolves and other types of ravenous animals as he watched over his flock. Next, he was called by the Lord to face off against a 9 ft. tall mighty warrior named Goliath. Then he had to watch out for King Saul, a man filled with anger who had a burning desire to take his life. Yes, these were all notable things to be in great fear of, yet David looked to the Lord for strength and fearlessness.
In Psalm 27, David boldly exclaims, “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? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though wars rise up against me, yet I will be confident.” David goes on to say later in the Psalm, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord”.
Dear friends in Christ, if the Lord was willing to suffer and die for you and me. And, if Jesus told us that He will never leave us or forsake us and He would be with us to the end of the ages, then, what should we fear. What can man do against us when the we have the risen Lord on our side? In the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” we hear these words, “Though devils all the world should fill, All eager to devour us, We tremble not, we fear no ill; They shall not over-power us. This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will, He can harm us none. He judged; the deed is done; One little word can fell him.” Evil will not stand up under the name of Jesus, even when we think it has run rampant in our world. Be faithful, be strong, and fear not dear saint! Pastor McCarty