“But He said unto them, ‘It is I; don’t be afraid’”
February 20, 2020
God tells us one way or another some 365 times in the Bible, “Don’t be afraid.” That’s one for every day in the year. Do you think God knows our tendency is to continually resort to fear? The devil is the sinister minister of fear, but our Lord is the opposite.
The disciples, some of whom were seasoned sailors, were filled with fear, bending their backs to the boat’s oars. They fear they may drown. On top of all of this, where’s Jesus? Why hasn’t He come to them? Why has He forsaken them?
Then they see Him—walking on the water. That doesn’t bring them joy. Now their fear turns to raw terror. Who? What is that walking on the water? Is it a phantom? A ghost? And then they recognize—it’s Jesus.
We all have storms, if not now, then later. We are usually either going into a storm, in the middle of a storm, or coming out of a storm. Lengthy times of peace are rare. Peace in your life is not the subtraction of problems; it’s the addition of power to meet those problems. That’s God’s peace.
This week, commit to memory John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Just as plants need certain essentials to grow—light, water, and fertile soil—so do new Christians, babes in the faith. Without these essential basic truths of the faith, they will never establish strong roots or bear fruit. What Every Christian Ought to Know is a valuable volume for new Christians and young disciples and a suitably instructive resource for believers of all ages. This new paperback edition includes discussion questions for personal reflection or group study.