From the Epistle to the Romans (8:12 – 15) we hear the words “for you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of adoption.”

Some years ago there was a popular television show called “Fear Factor”. In each pulse-racing episode contestants from all across the nation would compete to see if they had the courage to face their most primal fears. Under the supervision of professional Hollywood stunt coordinators contestants were confronted by a series of fearful challenges. If they completed the assigned task, they advanced to the next level. If fear stopped them from completing the mission, they were eliminated from the game.

I’m not sure how much the lessons of the show transfer to real life but I do think fear is an important emotion in our lives that can dramatically affect our actions. Over and over in Scripture, God comes to us with the message “Fear Not”. Recall when the angel of God came to a young girl named Mary, his first words were “Fear Not”. When he came to Joseph, the message was the same. When Jesus comes to his disciples in a storm on the sea, his message is “take heart; have no fear”. I suspect that one of the messages God is sending us today is “Fear Not”.

Our world is chock-full of things to be fearful of: COVID-19, racial tensions, political unrest, economic crisis, chronic personal problems. There’s no doubt that there is plenty to be afraid of these days. And yet, it is my belief that God is still saying to us: “Take heart; have no fear”.