One of the greatest ministries born again believers can fulfill for each other involves the encouragement and challenge to be courageous, based on faith in the God who promises His devotion to our well-being.
"Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompense; He will come and save you" (Isaiah 35:4).
Nothing can approach or confront us that our Heavenly Father has not allowed, or even determined. Sometimes He lets the hedges down for enemies to make their attack. Such occasions provide opportunity for the Lord to show Himself strong on our behalf as we trust and submit ourselves to Him. We must frequently remind ourselves and each other of this blessed truth because no place exists in the body of Christ for any fear but the fear of God Himself. We are united to the risen Lord Jesus Christ, who has "overcome the world," and who promises that we also will be "more than conquerors" as we remember Whose we are, and who we are (John 16:33; Romans 8:37).
We do well to ask the Lord to make us His tributaries of peace and courage to our brothers and sisters in Christ. "Heavenly Father, grant to us opportunity to serve as an encouragement and challenge to our fellow believers of how safe and secure we are in You. Lead us to those possessed of a fearful heart to remind them that You are possessed of a perfectly faithful Heart. Thank You for this privileged ministry, and thank You that as we encourage others, we will ourselves be blessed by Your peace. In the name of the Lord Jesus we pray, Amen."
"Exhort one another daily."
(Hebrews 3:13)
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