Acts 18:5-6, 9-10 – When Silas and Timothy arrived from Macedonia, Paul gave his whole time to preaching the message, testifying to the Jews that Jesus is the Messiah. When they opposed him and said evil things about him, he protested by shaking the dust from his clothes and saying to them, "If you are lost, you yourselves must take the blame for it! I am not responsible. From now on I will go to the Gentiles." One night Paul had a vision in which the Lord said to him, "Do not be afraid, but keep on speaking and do not give up, for I am with you. No one will be able to harm you, for many in this city are my people."
As I read the scripture, I'm amazed that even somebody as great and strong as the apostle Paul was afraid at times. I mean, the passage that we read today doesn't tell us that Paul was afraid. But he obviously must have been because why else did the Lord say to him, "Do not be afraid but keep on?"
I think the more times I read the Bible, I pick up more on the Lord's admonition or direction, telling great men and women in the Bible to not be afraid. It's not just a passing comment. God senses that even the greatest of us have fears. But this also assures us that we don't have to be afraid. He is with us all the time and directs us to press forward.
Today, I assure you somebody that reads this is experiencing some level of fear about the future and possibly even the present. Your comfort is that God knows when you're afraid and He has a message for you: Do not be afraid; keep on!
Stay healthy and have a blessed weekend!
~Dean Burnetti
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