October 15

“Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward.” —GENESIS 15:1

Throughout Scripture, God has called both men and women to a specific task that from all human perspectives was unattainable. Understandably, their initial reaction was fear.

When God calls us to a task, it’s almost always concerning something that goes beyond human capability or understanding, otherwise there would be no need for Him if we were capable ourselves. For many of us, the initial reaction is fear, and we are faced with a choice. We can live in the realm of the normal where everything is explicable and predictable, or we can live on a level where we begin to commit ourselves to things, which by human standards, are not possible. 

What sets the genuine Christian apart is that there are features of his or her life that defy explanation other than the fact that God is doing something. If there isn’t anything about our lives that requires a divine explanation, we’re little different from our unbelieving neighbours, and if we don’t allow God to take us into the realm of the supernatural, we’ll never experience the thrill and adventure He intends for the Christian life. 

It is our willingness to trust God that overrides the fear, and our abiding faith in Him that accomplishes His purpose. To Abraham, Jacob and Moses, God said, “Do not be afraid.” In fact, 366 times it says in the Bible, “Do not be afraid”. It’s a natural reaction and a good one, because anything of which we are not afraid we may take on with our own resources independently of God. Though the revelation of God’s plan provokes fear, the revelation of His power produces faith. When God calls us to a task, it is not our ability, but our availability He requires, and we leave the “how to” to Him.

The quality of our faith will grow out of the genuineness of our fear, which is our awareness that what God has called us to do is much greater than we are. The point of being a Christian is that we may know the power of His Holy Spirit at work in our lives. The marvellous thing is that God uses our weaknesses to show Himself strong, which is why our strengths are never a virtue in the Christian life, but a handicap. If the revelation of God’s task for us provokes fear, and the revelation of His power produces faith, then we can rest in the realization of God’s purpose providing fulfillment.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, in every task You call me to do, I know You are my empowering. May I rest in your strength, and be who You need me to be in accomplishing your purpose.

TO REFLECT UPON: Are there times when fear overrides my faith, and prevents me from stepping out for God?