DON’T LET FEAR PARALYZE YOU!
DON’T LET FEAR PARALYZE YOU!
“We know he is our son,” the parents answered, “and we know he was born blind. But how he can see now, or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. Ask him. He is of age; he will speak for himself.” His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, who already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue. That was why his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.” —John 9:20-23
Fear of spiritual leaders can keep people from speaking the truth about a situation. Actually, many people use fear to silence others. There can be abuse in a marriage and it is fear that keeps the one abused silent. There can be abuse of a child, but fear is used to keep the child silent. When a person knows of corruption taking place the fear of losing a position whether at a job, in politics, at a business, in a church, synagogue, mosque or other institution keep them silent. This abuse can be verbal or physical.
In the above passage the Jewish leaders “already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.” This would really impact a person’s life and so when the parents of the formerly blind man were asked about how their son could now see they said, “He is of age; ask him.” His parents did not want to be associated with something that Jesus did which might give the Jewish leaders the motivation to “put out of the synagogue.”
How many people will not acknowledge Jesus because of the fear the possibility of major life impact that will take place? Those who deny who Jesus is not only do not want to believe themselves, but want to encourage others not to believe as well. Some will use fear tactics to accomplish their desires to discourage others from believing.
I know of a situation of when a teenager trusted Jesus and when their family found out all the religious leaders and extended family met together with this teenager. For hours they verbally and physically abuse this teenager in hopes they would recant. But the teenager found forgiveness of sins in Jesus and was not going to give that up. So the result was the father of this teenager saying, “Ok, we can see you are not going to change your mind so here are the options. You can leave home right now with just the clothes on your back or we will kill you.” The teenager left home and our Lord bless that teenager in ministry which has impacted tens upon tens of thousands of people who are now following Jesus.
Fear holding you back from following Jesus or being obedient to Jesus? Don’t let it. Trust our Lord Jesus and He will do wonderful things in and through your life. Dear Father if any that are reading this are fearful to follow Jesus or be obedient to Jesus please take that fear away by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Jesus. So may it be! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gu0nOaFsI