"After this,
the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram.
I am your shield, your very great reward." (Genesis 15:1)
Black Bart was a professional thief whose very name
struck fear as he terrorized the Wells Fargo stage line. From San Francisco to New York, his name
became synonymous with the danger of the frontier. Between 1875 and 1883 he robbed 29 different
stagecoach crews. Amazingly, Bart did it
all without firing a shot. Because he
wore a hood, no victim ever saw his face. He never took a hostage and was never trailed
by a sheriff. Instead, Black Bart used
fear to paralyze his victims. His threatening
presence was enough to overwhelm the toughest stagecoach guard. [i]
Fear can so cripple our hearts and minds that it can
prevent clear thinking. It can make us
feel nervous, defeated, and discouraged. Fear can even keep us from having faith in God
and enjoying the victory and blessing He wants to give us.
Abram was the first person in the Bible to hear the words
Fear not. There were many reasons to be
afraid. He and his household faced many
uncertainties. Yet, God told Abram that
He was his shield and reward. He needed
to trust Him, and not be afraid of any person or situation. As Christians, we are not to be fearful but
are to trust in the Lord. Should Satan
come against us with his lies and fear, we are to turn to God and ask that the
fear be removed.
Right now, if there is any fear in your life, bring it to
God. The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever
trusts in the Lord shall be safe.” (Proverbs 29:25) Do not fear any person or problem you may be
facing, and don’t allow fear to rule your life or keep you from experiencing
God’s freedom, blessing, and victory. Scripture
reminds us that, “…God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a
spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” (2Timothy 1:7)
Trust in God. He is your shield and great reward.
[i] www.sermonsearch.com/sermon-illustrations/2381/black-bart,
Today in the Word, August 8, 1992
Can God change your life?
God has made it possible for you
to know Him, and experience
an amazing change in your own life.
Discover how you can find peace
with God.
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