Fear Not - 2

Daily Reading: Isaiah 43

Scripture Focus: But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.” (Isaiah 43.1)

Devotional Thought: In a recent conversation with friends, we came to the conclusion that much of the hysterics in regard to racial tension is caused by fear.  We are afraid of change, afraid of the unknown, afraid that what we have seen on the streets of Minneapolis will be duplicated in our community.  Fear is a terrible taskmaster.  It will brook no dissent.  But, love - the perfect love of God - casts out fear!

Resting in the love of God, we confess that...

·       God created us.  He knows how the human heart works.

·       God formed us.  The Hebrew word means to "fashion according to a plan."  You see, God not only made you, he has a plan for you.

·       God redeems us.  While we have gone astray - both as individuals and as the human race - God has sent Jesus to bring us back to him, back to our created purpose.

·       God knows us.  He sees us in our weakness and vulnerability.  He knows what we need and how to deliver it.

·       God owns us.  You've heard it said, "You've got to own your problem."  In that sense, God owns us.  In our fear, we may insist that others see and say things just like us.  But God isn't like that.  He will not "cancel" us when we fail to live up to his purposes.  We're his, after all!

Let the ancient words of the prophet give you peace: "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" (Isaiah 43.2).

Prayer: Lord, my heart sings today: "Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood, some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long." Amen. (George A. Young)

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 77.16-20

16 When the waters saw you, O God, when the waters saw you, they were afraid; indeed, the deep trembled.

17 The clouds poured out water; the skies gave forth thunder; your arrows flashed on every side.

18 The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook.

19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.

20 You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.