Thurs., 3/24/16 Devotion (Jn. 14:27b)

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

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

The most fearless people are those who are the most naturally timid and afraid. This seems odd, but it is true. The reason for this is because Christ in-stills confidence in those who—in themselves—would lack it the most. This boldness is a result of faith in Jesus. The believer says, "God commands me not to fear, therefore, I will trust in Christ, and be fearless in Him."

The apostles themselves were good examples of this. Some of them were ini-tially falsely self-confident (like Peter); but all of them were really fearful by nature. Only after the power of the Holy Spirit fell on them at Pentecost were they filled with so much divinely-inspired assurance, that nothing could stop them.

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