product of doubt. In a nutshell, the truth is that if a Christian has per fect maturing love for God, he will fear nothing. The hymn writer had it right when he penned, “What have I to dread, what have I to fear, lean ing on the everlasting arms?” Too many of us look to trusting the Lord as our last resort. Perhaps it’s like the Christian woman who was al ways apprehensive. When told by the pastor that in a certain situation the only thing left to do was to trust the Lord, she was horrified with the pros pect, and moaned, “Oh, has it come to that?” Our problem is that we do not always recognize the Lord’s sufficiency for every need. Do you remember that when God told Moses His name He explained, “You tell Pharoah ‘I AM’ sent you.” Did it ever occur to you that that seems to be an incomplete title? “I AM” what? The reason God didn’t say any more than that, al though of course in the Gospels we have the beautiful “I AM’s” of Christ, is we are to fill in the rest. This is the Lord’s “blank check” for whatever our needs may be. The manna which God gave to the children of Israel, al though there has been much specula tion as to what it looked and tasted like, it is believed by Biblical scholars to have the unusual property of be coming the palatable flavor a particu lar individual desired it to taste like. If he had a fondness for a certain flavor, it would taste like that. So, specific and individual needs were gratified. Christ is our manna, the Bread of Life. Let me share several wonderful verses of promise which challenge my heart continually regard ing this pertinent subject. In II Timo thy 1:7 we as God’s children, as be lievers in the Lord Jesus Christ, are reminded that “God hath not given us the spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Then David declared, “I sought the Lord and He delivered me from all of my fears.” Are we seeking Him? Is our love for Him growing? “The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?”
it may have been, fell far short in actual practice. It is certainly not true in the spiritual realm either. How few people actually do possess “freedom from fear.” Yet, for the Christian, such can be the norm of existence through an abiding and growing love for Christ. Isaiah exhorts us, “Neither TO ALL PARENTS " |'|| lend you for a little time a child of mine," He said. For you to love the while he lives, and mourn for when he's dead. It may be for six or seven years, or twenty-two or three; But will you, till I call him back, take care of him for Me? He'll bring his charms to gladden you; and should his stay be brief, You'll have his lovely memories as solace for your grief. I cannot promise he will stay since all from earth return. But there are lessons taught down there I want this child to learn. I've looked the wide world over, in search for teachers true, And from the throng that crowd life's lanes I have selected you. Now will you give him all your love nor think the labor vain, Nor hate Me when I come to call, to take him back again? I fancied that I heard them say, "Dear Lord, Thy will be done, For all the joy Thy child will bring the risk of grief we'll run. "W e'll shelter him with tenderness, we'll love him while we may And for the happiness we have known forever grateful stay; But shall the angels call him much sooner than we've planned, We'll brave the bitter grief that comes and try to understand." — Edgar A. Guest
fear ye their fear, nor be afraid” (8:12). To be sure, there is a virtuous fear which comes as a result of faith. We are speaking, however, of that vicious fear which comes as the by
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