Fear Not! Protection DevotionsExemplo

You Have Authority

"Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues…Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (Matthew 10:16-17, 26). 

Jesus has been training the disciples in preparation for sending them out in ministry, but He warns the disciples that there is danger out there lurking. Sheep are defenseless animals and have no way to defend themselves. So why would a sheep not be in fear of a wolf? When you have a Good Shepherd on your side looking after you, you can live fearlessly. 

“But David said to Saul, ‘Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth’” (1 Samuel 17:34-35). David was a great shepherd and protected his father’s flock from lions and bears. Jesus is the Good Shepherd and He too is an excellent Shepherd watching after His Father’s flock. 

Jesus will not only protect us from the wolves (people), but also from the roaring lion (devil) who wants to devour us. Peter cautions us to “be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Jesus warns us to be wise and Peter tells us to be alert, so we can’t stick our heads in the sand and be oblivious to our surroundings. Jesus didn’t leave us defenseless either. He tells us in Luke 10:19, “I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.” As believers, we have authority over the enemy, but like any good soldier, we need to know about our weaponry and how to use it.

The next time you have feelings of fear creeping up, remember what David told us: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:1, 4). 

Prayer: Lord, because You are my Shepherd, I too will fear no evil. Help me to understand how much authority I actually have as a believer. May I learn to exercise my faith and my authority, growing stronger spiritually daily. In Jesus' name, amen.