Grace Covenant Family Devotions

February 9, 2010

Matthew 28
Pastor John Edwards

Do not be afraid.

It’s such a familiar phrase in Scripture that the potential impact on our lives could be overlooked. The enemy of our souls would like that.

Yet you and I can’t be reminded often enough that – regardless of circumstances or situations – our natural fears can crumble in light of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. The key is how we respond to the knowledge that He is alive.

“Do not be afraid” appears various times in God’s Word, i.e. to Abraham (Genesis 15), Isaac (Genesis 26), Moses (Numbers 21) and Joshua (Joshua 8, 10, 11). Announcing our Savior’s birth (Luke 2), an angel told the shepherds the same thing. It’s recorded again in Matthew 28:5-7 when two women - apprehensive and filled with grief over the death and entombment of Jesus Christ – were met by an angelic messenger speaking directly to their pain and fear: “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead…”

It was upon receiving this information that the women had a choice – not unlike what Henry Blackaby described in Experiencing God: “When you face a crisis of belief, what you do next reveals what you really believe about God.” They had the “crisis of belief” option to disbelieve with fear, disobey, run away and tell no one. Yet they chose to receive the truth, obey by faith, go and tell.

Often it seems that we’re presented with similar options – a path with two opposite directions:

• Give in to fear of the unknown…ignore that Jesus is Who He said He is…handle the situation our own way...cover up a testimony to His power and provision

or…

• Believe Him…acknowledge His presence and power…“come and see” Him through prayer and His Word….go and tell “…that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

It’s a conscious choice…a choice of faith.

Do not be afraid.

A native Charlottean, John Edwards has served as a Grace Covenant staff pastor for nearly five years.