W.B. Davidson writes of an experience that he had as a child that taught him a lot about fear and faith:

When just a small child, I accompanied my father to see his mother, who lived about three miles from our home.  We remained longer than we should and night overtook us.  Between our home and grandmother's was a swamp and that night the frogs croaking and crickets chirping, together with the darkness and shadows of the trees, frightened me.

I inquired of my father if there were any danger of "something catching us," and he assured me there was no danger.  Soon I asked the same question again and received the same answer.  But my father saw I was frightened and he took me by the hand and said, “I will not allow anything to harm you.”  All my fears passed away and I was ready to face the world; for my father had me by the hand.

How like our Heavenly Father is this. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

The only thing that can separate us from God is our sin: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; And your sins have hidden His face from you, So that He will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2).

But God loves us so much that He gave His one and only Son to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16).  Jesus paid the price for our redemption from sin so that we can be reconciled to Him (Ephesians 1:7).

God will save, add to His family, and give eternal life to those who place their faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turn from their sins in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  He will continue to cleanse from sin those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

And as long as we continue to cling to His hand in trusting obedience, God has promised: “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

Won’t YOU cling to God’s extended hand in trusting obedience?

-- David A. Sargent

* “The Personal Touch” by W.B. Davidson in www.moreillustrations.com

David A. Sargent, Minister

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

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