Verse of the Day

February 12, 2016

Scripture

"Don't be afraid. Just have faith."" - Mark 5:36 NLT

Devotion

The leader of a synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus and pleaded fervently, 'My little daughter is dying . . . Please come and lay your hands on her; heal her so she can live' (Mark 5:23). Jesus went with him, but on the way messengers came and told them that his daughter had died. Jesus must have sensed the fear that came over Jairus and in response He spoke the words of our verse for today: 'Don't be afraid. Just have faith.'

Like Jairus, we may have to deal with problems that can cause real fear to come into our lives. Like Jairus, it could be a health issue of a family member. It could be our own health issue. It could be a business or financial issue that causes the fear. It could be a legal issue that threatens us. It could be anything. In this dispensation fear can arise from problems in any area of life.

When these problems and issues come up and fear tries to take control of us, we may have no idea of what to do. All seems lost. The roof has caved in. Everything we tried to do about it failed. We ask the Lord, 'What do I do now?' We ask, but without really expecting an answer. 

The Lord, however, always has an answer. The Lord always answers each and every one of us the same way every time. He always answers with the two commands of our verse for today. 

First of all, He says, 'Don't be afraid.' Fear is an emotion. It arises within us as a response to problematic situations. It can only arise within us, however, when our hearts are filled with unbelief. When we don't believe that God will help, fear has its way with us.

That's why the Lord always adds the second command to the first: 'Just have faith.' When we have faith, when we choose to put into practice the faith the Lord has given us, fear has to go and we are able to enter the rest of the Lord (Hebrews 4:3). 

Jairus must have obeyed the commands because he allowed Jesus to enter his home and Jesus raised his daughter from the dead. If you want the Lord to help you deal with your problem, then do likewise. 

Don't be afraid. Just have faith.