WHO TO FEAR?

The he fear of God puts an end to all the fear that, because of our fallen nature, we experience here on earth. That is why Jesus insisted on telling the people to fear only the One who has power over life and death.

Being a faithful witness for God can stir up the wrath of other people. It has been this way throughout history. Think for example of Joseph, who because of his faithfulness to the Lord went through unimaginable suffering and unfounded accusations. Think of Daniel and his friends, who God had to rescue from the very mouths of lions or from the burning flames of a great oven. Think of Mordecai, or of the high price that John the Baptist paid because he announced the kingdom of God —his own death at the hands of the authorities.

We remember the great heroes of the Reformation, such as Wycliffe, Huss, Jerome, or Luther. And what about the Valdenses? The opposition they all stirred up because of their faithfulness to God and to the truth was so great that they undoubtedly spent sleepless nights and long days praying and fasting. But the deep fear of God that they felt, the reverence for the Savior, gave them indescribable courage to face persecution and death.

That same God and that same courage are available to you, if you fear the Lord with all your heart and reverence Him with all your soul. Choose to fear God, because the harm that enemies can cause you, no matter how cruel it may seem, will only be temporary. Don’t let fear stop you in your work for the cause of Christ.

There is still much work to be done. The harvest is great and the workers few and fearful. «Whatever inconveniences and hardships you may encounter, trust in the Lord. We have no cause to worry and fear if we take our position for the truth, that we and our families will suffer… If we would study the Word more faithfully, we would increase in faith…. I have been shown that Satan is stealing a march upon us…. Our time for work is limited, and God calls us as ministers and people to be minutemen. Teachers as wise as serpents and as harmless as doves must come to the help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord against the mighty. There are many who do not understand the prophecies relating to these days, and they must be enlightened.» — Evangelism, p. 238, 237.

Heavenly Father, give us courage to serve You and to speak of You fearlessly.