This is a popular inspirational phrase from God’s Word. I did a search online for the phrase and was presented with almost 800 million results in less than one second and too many images of the phrase for me to pick just one for my liking. One thing that I did find that I was overjoyed with was the reference to where the phrase is found in God’s Word Isaiah 41:10.
“10fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” – Isaiah 41:10 (ESV)
I have heard of things being attributed to God’s Word, yet there is no reference to where it is found. I find it that more so is it something that is reference to a concept or belief more so than an actual phrase or verse. The example of drinking and dancing in the Baptist religion for example. It is not the drinking or the dancing that is the issue, it is what could/has come as a result of the drinking and dancing that are frowned upon. Anything that would cause another to stumble should be avoided. The idea that God’s Word is specifically referenced with regard to the phrase is great to see as a Christian.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the following. Notice that the verse is not the beginning of the sentence in the conventional sense of grammar. It is only the end of the sentence that follows two additional verses. Here are those verses.
“8But you, Israel, my servant, Jacob, whom I have chosen, the offspring of Abraham, my friend; 9you whom I took from the ends of the earth, and called from its farthest corners, saying to you, ‘You are my servant, I have chosen you and not cast you off’;” – Isaiah 41:8-9 (ESV)
As I review these two verses in conjunction with verse 10, I am brought back to God’s protection for His chosen people. It is important to remember that where God will and does strengthen us, it is His chosen people that gain the most from His protection. As a Christian and one of God’s chosen, I have to be careful not to turn others away from Him by claiming to be more than they. One of the most important tasks I have as one of God’s chosen is outlined in Matthew 28:19-20.
“19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
That is what I am doing here. I am using my daily bible study to reach out and bring others the Word of God. Not in the sense that I know better, but in the sense that I am still learning and here is where I am learning from. I recommend looking in God’s Word to find more for yourself and when you do, you may be led to give you life to Christ and serve him by going out and bringing His Word to others.
I have been strengthened by the Word of God daily and as such I know that He is with me. I will therefor “fear not” what the world has for me, as I do not live for the world, but for Christ.
Where are you looking for your strength? Are you seeing phrases and taking them for your own? What if you were to look to God’s Word for strength, would you be able to “fear not”?
Trevor's Thoughts 