"But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! Isaiah 43:1 NAS

Here again we are given yet another verse telling us not to fear. This is a wonderful confirmation verse from the Lord. It is a perfect picture of a parent giving that security to a wandering child, letting him or her know to whom they belong. We need that from time to time in our Christian walk. Now of course we know we need not fear for He has truly redeemed us.

As a Dad I want to drive home the fact that my kids need not fear when they are with me or at home. They are under my protection to the point of it costing me my life. They need to know they are secure. Children need to know this and it is good to tell them often. I shared again recently with my oldest that if someone broke into our house that I would do everything in my power to protect him. That meant that they would have to go through me to get to him.

We also are under Christ's protection and it did cost Him His life to cover us in His precious blood. Galatians 4:4-5 says, "But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law, in order that He might redeem those who were under the Law, that we might receive the adoption as sons (NAS)." Christ gives us the security to know that we are sealed in Him (Eph 1:13) and that "greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4 NAS)."

We need to be reminded over and over again that His redemption price removed the fear of sin and death. It also made us His son's and daughters. This means that anything the enemy of our soul throws our way has to first go past Christ in order to come to us. Sometimes in our Christian walk we need confirmation such as this. Maybe you grew up in a home that did not confirm you in that way. Maybe you grew up without this security. Maybe you grew up living in fear of your parents.

Maybe you grew up in foster care most of your life longing for a true place to call home and to truly belong to a Mom and a Dad. One of the greatest things that adoption can provide is security. We have been redeemed and no longer need to fear. Christ’s precious blood gave us security by adoption. The Lord is our protector, provider and lover of our souls. He gave His life to take away the fears we would have. This may seem like repetition but "Do not fear..." Remember that was just recently sent out.

We are a fearful people and the Lord wants to drive home to us that there is no fear in Jesus. When we are children we think we need a nightlight for fear of the dark. When we grow up other things make us fearful and we might feel like we need nightlights of different sorts to give us comfort and peace. The nightlight is a false sense of peace. Only Jesus is real peace in the dark times and in the Light. He is our true shinning light that takes away our fears.

Today may you be strengthened in His wonderful light and remember again, "Do not fear..." for you have been redeemed! Give Him praise and glory for that right now. Say to yourself, "There is no fear in Jesus!" Amen to that.