What Do You Fear?

I spent a number of hours in the book of Acts today, studying up on the life and journeys of Paul. The thing that stuck with me throughout the day was his courage, even in the face of constant persecution from Jewish leaders. When threatened with the broad side of stones, or when thrown out of town by the ring of his collar, he was able to stand back up, “shake the dust from his feet” ¹ and keep on keeping on, one time even turning around and heading back into town. ²

I suppose I admire this because I myself am afraid of a cat’s meow. The dust might clear from my feet, but only from running a mile in the opposite direction. Instead of the courage of Paul I have the fear of a mama’s boy. When it comes to spreading the good news, if I am threatened, laughed at, or even sense rejection, I will close my mouth and forget I ever said anything. Usually I never get that far. I have too much fear, even though I know and believe that I should “fear not, for the Lord is with me.” ³

I have other fears. I fear heights, or rather falling from said heights. I fear the dark of an empty house and the European Hornets nesting in my back yard. I am even beginning to fear the fans of the University of Tennessee.

I know I am not alone. We all have fears. Some of us fear heights, some of us fear opening the Bible and sharing it with a friend. Me, evidently I fear it all.

What do you fear?

1. Acts 13:51: “So they shook the dust from their feet as a sign of rejection and went to the town of Iconium.” [↩]
2. Acts 14:19-20: “Then some Jews…stoned Paul and dragged him out of town, thinking he was dead. But as the believers gathered around him, he got up and went back into town.” [↩]
3. Isaiah 41:10 [↩]