sokin's devotional 46 - operating out of freedom, not of fear
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, 'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.'
So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"
Hebrews 13:5,6
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I, like many people, often times care so much about what other people think of me. Their perception of me and thoughts regarding me mean so much.
Man has the ability therefore to cripple me emotionally - and at times, I feel like I am at the mercy of their thoughts.
In another sense, man also has the ability to physically do harm to me as well. Although I've never been in a serious life threatening situation, there are certainly moments for people where they fear the physical threat of violence.
But the Word of God tells us that there is no fear that needs to be had with people because ultimately, the Lord our God is our helper.
What can man to do us?
Curse us? God blesses us. ("You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country." Deuteronomy 28:3)
Speak ill will to us? God chooses to protect us. ("The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident." Psalm 27:1-3)
Do evil on our lives? God redeems them for good and His purposes. ("And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28)
Kill us? God guarantees salvation and eternal destiny because of Jesus Christ. ("For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16)
So while man does have power to do many bad things to us, we must not operate out of fear of man, but out of freedom which comes from knowing that ultimately, God is the one who controls our destiny and He is ever before and with us.
We must still live with wisdom however. I am not advocating that we live foolishly...like walking around a battlefield saying these verses in your head thinking that we are bulletproof...
but still, we are called to not live in fear of man, but rather in the knowing that God is ever with you.
He will never leave us. He will never forsake you.
He is your helper and you do not have to be afraid.
What can man possibly to do you?
So we say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?'"
Hebrews 13:5,6
---
I, like many people, often times care so much about what other people think of me. Their perception of me and thoughts regarding me mean so much.
Man has the ability therefore to cripple me emotionally - and at times, I feel like I am at the mercy of their thoughts.
In another sense, man also has the ability to physically do harm to me as well. Although I've never been in a serious life threatening situation, there are certainly moments for people where they fear the physical threat of violence.
But the Word of God tells us that there is no fear that needs to be had with people because ultimately, the Lord our God is our helper.
What can man to do us?
Curse us? God blesses us. ("You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country." Deuteronomy 28:3)
Speak ill will to us? God chooses to protect us. ("The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread? When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, In spite of this I shall be confident." Psalm 27:1-3)
Do evil on our lives? God redeems them for good and His purposes. ("And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28)
Kill us? God guarantees salvation and eternal destiny because of Jesus Christ. ("For God so loved the world, that He gave His One and only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16)
So while man does have power to do many bad things to us, we must not operate out of fear of man, but out of freedom which comes from knowing that ultimately, God is the one who controls our destiny and He is ever before and with us.
We must still live with wisdom however. I am not advocating that we live foolishly...like walking around a battlefield saying these verses in your head thinking that we are bulletproof...
but still, we are called to not live in fear of man, but rather in the knowing that God is ever with you.
He will never leave us. He will never forsake you.
He is your helper and you do not have to be afraid.
What can man possibly to do you?
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