Fearless
Scripture Reading — 2 Timothy 1:3-12
The Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Our daughter once went on a mission trip to San Pedro Sula, Honduras. While she was there, a man using a machine gun shot at one of her group’s buses. The mission organization contacted the parents, shared what happened, and asked if we wanted our daughter sent home early. My immediate thought was that our daughter was in a place that was in desperate need of the gospel and that we needed to step up prayers for her safety. One of our friends commented, “That is the one of the most dangerous cities in the world! What are you doing sending your daughter there?”
My response was that “God has not given us a spirit of fear” (another way of interpreting our verse for today), and yet others would argue that we should act with a sound mind and not put the Lord “to the test” (Luke 4:12). In the midst of all this, our adventuresome daughter let us know that she wanted to complete the mission work.
Hearing God’s call is critical in order to go forward. It may lead us to a calm, peaceful life. Or it may lead to a life in a lions’ den, a fiery furnace, or some other dangerous persecution. Whatever happens, however, the Lord is with us in any and every situation.
Father, we are listening to your leading. Give us a fearless spirit, because sometimes we can find ourselves in very hostile territory. We know that you are with us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
About the author — John Kuperus
Since he was young, John Kuperus has had a passion that everyone would know Jesus. Spreading the good news that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) is very important to him. To be better equipped for missions, John attended Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He applied these skills with marketplace evangelism in a business he started in Sussex, New Jersey. This calling continued to follow him, so John attended seminary and became a minister in the Christian Reformed Church, serving a church in Ontario for eight years. Currently he serves as a missionary for Youth with a Mission (YWAM). He witnesses Jesus changing lives as people walk out of the darkness into the light. John is married to Helen, and they have seven children.
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