When Gideon realized he saw the Angel of the Lord. he was afraid he was going to die. But the Lord calmed his fears and told him, “Do not be afraid. You will not die.”
We live in a world that is filled with fear. The enemy used fear to paralyze people and to hinder God’s plans for their life. The Bible is clear that fear does not come from God. 1 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. [1]
You may not realize this, but the phrase “Don’t be Afraid” occurs more often in the Bible than do not steal, do not covet, or do not kill. We often focus on the commandments as things we must do to be right before God. God desires a relationship with us and that can’t happen if we are afraid of Him. We are to have a healthy respect for who He is, but also realize that He loves us.
God is our Shepherd. Jesus says, “Do not fear, little flock.” ( Luke 12:32). If we are God’s flock, then He is our Shepherd. With God as our Shepherd, we have no reason to fear. Not only is God our Shepherd; He is also our Father. Like an earthly father who knows how to give good gifts to his children, our Father in heaven gives good things to His children who ask Him. (Matthew 7:11). We don’t have to be afraid because we have a loving Father in heaven. If God is our King, then that means He is sovereign and in control. We have nothing to fear.
So, remember this today. God is your Shepherd, Father, and King. You are a part of His little flock, His beloved sheep, and He loves you very much. He loved you so much that He sent Jesus to die for your sins. When you trust Jesus as your Savior, He enable you to be in relationship with God. Because of that, you have no reason to be afraid.
To hear more of the story of Gideon, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/series/the-call/the-call-gideon
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (2 Ti 1:7). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.