Mon., 3/24/14 Devotion (Jn. 14:27b)

Today's encouragement comes from John 14:27b, where we find the Re-deemer saying this:

" . . . Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."

The people who become the most fearless in Christ are those who are the most naturally timid and afraid (in themselves). This seems odd, but it is true. The reason for this is because Christ instills confidence in those who—by their own nature--would lack it the most. This boldness is a result of faith. The believer says, "God commands me not to fear--therefore, by grace, in Christ, I will be fearless."

The apostles themselves were good examples of this. Some of them were initially and by constitution falsely self-confident (like Peter); but all of them were really fearful at heart. Only after the power of Pentecost were they filled with so much divinely-inspired strength, that nothing could intimidate them.

[Puritan quote of the day: "The Holy Ghost is content to dwell in smoky, offen-sive souls." --Richard Sibbes, in, "The Bruised Reed"]