Do Not Fear—Believe

The words of Jesus to Jairus when they heard that the little girl had died are good words: "Do not fear. Believe." Here in the heart of Austin as we try to become the heart of Austin, we need to hear these words. God has great things in store for us to do in his name. University Avenue church wants to be a tool in the hand of God. God is willing to work with us and through us. We have to be willing to step with God into our own future.

The Israelites came out of slavery in Egypt and found themselves soon at the brink of the Red Sea with Pharaoh's army closing in hard behind them. The choices seemed to be wade and drown or fight and die. What do you do when the obvious choices are all dire and dreadful? Screaming and sulking, pouting and protesting are always high on the list of options. God invites us to another response: Do not fear. Believe. 

God invited the Israelites to step out into the dry land opened through the sea. Jesus invited Jairus to walk into the room of death. The Israelites marched out onto the other side of the sea and watched their oppressors be overwhelmed in the waves. Jairus walked out of that bedroom with his sweet daughter alive in his arms. Believe. Believe. What is obvious is not inevitable. What is impossible may just be the future we will know. 

Do you have the notion that you are caught between a rock and a hard place? As a church do we feel that we are caught between a difficult past and an uncertain future? Do not be afraid. Do not fear. Believe. Only believe and see the work of the Lord among us. 

God bless us all.