March 29

Dauntless Faith

For I am with you and no one will lay a hand on you, because I have many people in this city. — Acts 18:10 BSB

As long as the Lord had work for Paul to do in Corinth, the fury of the mob was restrained. The Jews opposed him and blasphemed, but they could neither stop the preaching of the gospel nor the conversion of its hearers. God has power over even the most violent minds. He makes the wrath of man praise Him when it erupts, but He displays His goodness even more when He restrains it; and He certainly can restrain it. “By the greatness of Your arm, they are as still as a stone, till Your people pass over, O Lord.”

So don’t be afraid of man when you know you’re doing your duty. Go straight ahead, as Jesus would, and those who oppose you will be like a bruised reed or smoldering wick. Many times, people have been afraid simply because they were fearful; but a bold faith in God brushes aside fear like cobwebs in the path of a giant. No one can harm us unless the Lord permits. The One who makes the devil flee at a word can certainly control the devil’s agents. They might already be more afraid of you than you are of them. So go forward, and where you expect to meet foes, you may find friends.