Friday, February 22, 2008

Fri., 2/22/08 Devotion (Lk. 8:50a)

Today's encouragement comes from Luke 8:50a, which says this:

"But when Jesus heard it, He answered him, saying, 'Do not be afraid; only believe . . . ' "

That is a good policy to live by: "Do not be afraid; only believe." Fear, like a magnet, inevitably draws us to one of two poles: worry (which is idolatry); or Christ (which is God-pleasing). It is not unnatural to fear (while living in a fallen world); but it is unnatural to trust (in the midst of it). When we do exercise faith, it is a sure sign that God has done a marvelous (and miraculous) work in us.

What will you and I do with our fearful moments today? Will we default to worry, and only make it worse; or, will we go against the grain, and leave the concern(s) in the hands of God, who alone can handle the issue(s)?

[Puritan quote of the day: "It is Satan that makes us have good thoughts of ourselves, and hard thoughts of God." --Thomas Watson, in "All Things for Good"]