Fear is a strange thing. Of course, it makes us very aware of the things that can cause us harm. But it also has the ability to bring our bodies into harm because it can paralyze us even when a very real threat is looming.
In terms of our spirituality, Jesus tells us to go and preach the gospel to all the world. Yet we don’t. Why not? We’re afraid. Typically, we’re afraid of the repercussions of the preaching, not the things that might happen as we preach. We could get fired from our job, someone will beat us up, we’ll be thrown in prison, or we might even be martyred. In some places in the world, those are very legitimate fears. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t preach the gospel, of course. It just means we have to be aware that those things might happen.
Here in this country, though, most of those things aren’t very likely. Nowadays, we have a completely different fear that takes over when we should preach the gospel. We’re afraid our friends or family won’t like us anymore.
That’s embarrassing, isn’t it? Jesus died on the cross for our sins and He asked us to do one thing in return, and we even justify not doing that much. Let me share a passage out of 1 Peter 3 with you.
1 Peter 3:13-15
13 Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. AND DO NOT FEAR THEIR INTIMIDATION, AND DO NOT BE TROUBLED, 15 but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence;
Peter tells us here, “Don’t fear, and don’t be troubled.” It seems like that’s all we ever do, though. So how do we change? It begins when we decide that God’s honor is more important than our own; when we become more concerned with what people think about God than about what they think of us.
Fear grows in the dark like a fungus. But when exposed to the light, it dies. 1 John 1:5 says
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light , and in Him there is no darkness at all.
If you want to kill a giant today, remember that you are a soldier of Christ. Be courageous and strong! Expose your fears to God and He will guide you. As David slew Goliath, he said
1 Sam 17:45
45 … “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted.
Go slay your giant and do the Lord’s work.