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Fear Not, Beloved - Fear Not by Pastor Charlie Handren

By Anonymous
     This week’s Fighter Verses, drawn from Isaiah 43, are timely for our congregation. I encourage you to carefully and prayerfully meditate on every word. Isaiah writes, “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (Isaiah 43:1-3).
     In these verses God gives us a gracious command, tells us the foundation of that command, and makes two interrelated promises. First, God commands us not to fear. Fear comes in many forms, and it has many causes, but at the root of all fear is a lack of faith. As Pastor Kevin mentioned in last week’s devotional, to get real about our fear is to get real about our faith because facing our fear leads us to ask questions like these: Do I know God? Do I understand his character? Do I believe his promises? Do I live in light of the fact that, in Christ, he is always with me? Why am I afraid? So, in the end, God’s command to stop fearing is an invitation to search our hearts and press on in believing.
     Second, God tells us that the reason we have no need to fear is because he has redeemed us, he has called each of us by name, and he has made us his own. And while Isaiah first wrote these words to Israel, they were ultimately intended for all who belong to God by faith in Jesus Christ. Since our destiny is secure in Christ and our circumstances are under his care and control, what have we to fear? The opposite of fear is faith in the faithfulness of God, and the fruit of such faith is the peace of God in Christ (see Philippians 4:4-7).
     Third, God has promised that we will endure many things in this life. We will walk through water and rivers, fire and flames. To put it the other way around, God has not promised to keep us from the difficulties and sufferings of this life, or what James calls “trials of various kinds” (James 1:2). However, along with this, God does promise that he will be with us in suffering so that none of these things will ultimately overcome us. And the main reason he gives for having such confidence in him is that he is the Lord our God, he is the Holy One of Israel who was faithful to Israel and who is now faithful to all who belong to him in Christ, and he is our Savior who has saved us and will protect us both now and forevermore. So, what have we to fear?
     So, fear not, Beloved—fear not. Put your faith in the faithfulness of God, believe his words, and know his peace. “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).

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