July
2, 2003
FEAR
NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU
"Fear
not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you. I will uphold
you with My righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10, NKJV).
We sometimes
shudder when we think about "The fear of the Lord is
the beginning of wisdom" (Psalms 111:10; Proverbs 1:7
& 9:10). Fearing the Lord has its place for it brings
many to the realization that God has ultimate power. Jesus
said, "Do not fear those who kill
the body but cannot kill the soul, But rather fear Him who
is able to destroy both soul and body in hell"
(Matthew 10:28).
However,
those who have come to respect the Lord and realize that His
commandments and counsel are for our benefit and safety recognize
that with the Lord there is peace, safety, strength and lovingkindness.
With Him, there is the absence of fear for He helps us, strengthens
us and is present with us through troublous times. Zacharias,
the father of John the Baptist, prophesied saying, "Blessed
is the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited and redeemed
His people, and has raised up a horn of salvation for us--.
To grant us that we, -- might serve Him without fear, in holiness
and righteousness before Him all the days of our life"
(Luke 1:68, 69, 74, 75).
It is
God's purpose to save us, not destroy us. "For
God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting
life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn
the world, but that the world through Him might be saved"
(John 3:16, 17).
Jesus
said, "Do not fear,-- for it is
your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom"
(Luke 12:32). John recorded, "There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.
But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love
Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:18, 19).
"I,
the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you,
'Fear not, I will help you.' "-- " 'I will help
you,' says the Lord and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel"--
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you."-- "Fear
not, for I am with you,"-- "Do not fear, nor be
afraid."-- "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness,
you people in whose heart is My law; Do not fear the reproach
of men, nor be afraid of their insults."--Isaiah
41:13, 14; 43:1, 5; 44:8; 51:7.
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