ESOCS Devotional 23 January 2021
TEXT: ISAIAH 35:1-10
MEMORY VERSE: “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” Isaiah 35:4 NKJV
In the midst of an evil infested world, there are many spiritual and physical forces and agents of evil troubling people everywhere. They try to undo the godly. They take counsel together and perpetuate their evil desires and designs against God’s children, and take delight in doing so. They are happy when their victims fall, or when they are in pains and sorrows. The Bible describes their tactics: “They lurk in ambush in the villages, waiting to murder innocent people. They are always searching for helpless victim” (Ps. 10:8 NLT). Many of them says to themselves, “Who sees us?” and, “Who knows us?” (Isa. 29:15 NKJV). But the Bible says, “He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see?” (Ps. 94:9 ASV).
However, as Christians, we know that God is our defence (Ps. 46:1-3). We should not be afraid of the wicked. We should be bold and strong, for we are the offspring of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, to whom all powers belong (Matt. 28:18). He made us beautiful promises that are the guarantees we have concerning our defence from the evil and oppression of the wicked. He said, “… whoever touches you [harms you – NLT] touches the apple of his eye — I will surely raise my hand against them so that their slaves will plunder them” (Zech. 2:8-9 NIV).
One thing is sure about them, in all their evil plans against us, “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure” (Ps. 2:4-5 NKJV). Therefore, we should not be fearful; rather, we should be bold and strong. That is God’s will for us, and His command to us. He warned Jeremiah not to be afraid of the enemies; otherwise He would disgrace him in their presence (Jer. 1:8, 17). God did not give us the spirit of fear (2 Tim. 1:7). We have the Spirit of Christ in us (1 Pet. 1:11). We should begin to exercise our God-given graces in all areas of life.
We should be courageous; not fearful. God would fight for us always. Ephesians 6:10 says, “… be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (KJV). Fearlessness is one character of David that every Christian should imitate. He was bold to control and overcome Goliath with merely a sling and five stones. The soldiers of Israel’s army were sore afraid, including King Saul. We should not be afraid of any evil giant. We should march him force for force, power for power.
Read yesterday’s ESOCS Devotional here
Fear creates weakness and cowardice in the heart, and in the spirit of the fearful. We should be strong in our resolve to confront and conquer fear in our life. Sometimes, it takes courage to stop even a wrong character. But godly fear profits much (). Such is the only kind of fear we should have in our hearts: the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom (Ps. 119:10). It is a believer’s omnibus.
CHALLENGES
Write down and practise 5 ways you could develop the fear of God in you and practise it.
PRAYER POINT
Lord, give me the spirit and character to become bold and fearless.
FURTHER READING: Isaiah 59:1-21; Matthew 3:1-10; Philippians 1:27-2:4
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ESOCS Devotional 23 January 2021
