SCARED TACTICS

READING: ACTS 9:10-19

Verses 13 &14: “Then Ananias answered, ‘Lord I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.’” 

Even as Christians we are confronted with fears. However, we do much better in these confrontations when we confess our fears to the Lord. This is illustrated by the experience of Ananias, a 1st century Christian. The Bible reports that Ananias feared Saul of Tarsus, knowing him to be the great persecutor of the Church. Regardless of that, the Lord wanted Ananias to go to Saul and pray for him. As God instructed him, Ananias reminded the Lord of what a dangerous person Saul was. In effect, he was honestly expressing his fear. God responded to Ananias by affirming the importance of the assignment he was being given. The Lord’s response helped him to be encouraged so that he was able to complete his mission. Ananias had an experience with the Lord that models what is available for us all. He demonstrated that the first step in solving a problem is to face it, even when the problem is fear. He confessed his fear to God. For us too, by confessing fear to the Lord, we admit to Him that we need help. When we do that, His promise as stated in Psalm 46 is that He is a very present help. His love will cast out our fear! That’s a thought – about God’s Word.

RESPONSE

1. Does anything keep you from expressing fear to the Lord?

2. How can good come from fearful situations?