WHO’S IN
CONTROL: FEAR, YOU, OR GOD?
Kingdom
Kids devotions authorize Jesus’ LORDship
over our lives.
1 John
4:18: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because
fear has to do with punishment. The one
who fears is not made perfect in love.”
Let’s never allow fear to rule our lives! Let’s memorize an acronym for fear: “False Evidence Appearing Real”. Fear is convincing when we think it’s
real. But as the opening Scripture and
the lesson below claim, God’s love overcomes fear.
Who’s in charge of your life? The multiple-choice question is down to
two—since fear has just been eliminated.
Are you in charge, or have you claimed God as manager of your life?
Americans often laugh at living in fear. But fear can seem very real in different
parts of the world.
In Romania, the dictator didn’t honor religious
freedom. One day, a pastor, Rev. Joseph
Tson, who devoted himself to his flock, was hauled off to headquarters. A gun was aimed at his head.
The officer demanded, “Deny Jesus or we pull the
trigger.”
Because Joseph claimed Jesus as his manager, God’s Spirit
immediately kicked out fear and filled Joseph with love. Joseph repeated what the Spirit led him to
say: “If you kill me today you will do
me a great favor. All my sermons that
were recorded will be in great demand because I will be a martyr for Christ. You will help me greatly to share my
messages. You will also help me to go
to my Lord quickly!”
The officer’s mouth dropped open, as he dropped the gun. He yelled, “You Christians are crazy! Take this man back home.”
In a sense, Joseph
died that day. Christians have died to
our human nature and made Jesus manager of our lives when we rise from
baptism’s water. God’s Spirit freed Joseph
to witness effectively, unafraid of the officer
that day.
Dread and fear are lies that
the devil uses as weapons against us. “Fear
not” is commanded over 366 times to in the Bible.
Take
Home Nugget
Remember Peter walking
on water in Matthew 14:28-31? Jesus told
him to come and Peter started toward Jesus walking on the water. But when the howling wind distracted him—his wide
eyes went from Jesus to the churning sea—and he began to sink. Jesus reached out His arm and grabbed Peter. He asked, “Why did
you doubt?”
Clarifying Himself that He
wasn’t a ghost, Jesus first warned His disciples in Matthew 14:27, “Don’t be afraid.”
Holy Lord, enable me to overcome all fear. Since believing in Jesus, I’m already dead to
my human insecurities. May Believers-in-Christ
in conflict zones throughout the world also overcome their fears, in His name,
Amen.
J.D.
Griffith
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