Do not be afraid

This morning I was reading Luke 12 and came to this verse, ...

Luke 12:32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.
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I have seen this phrase, "Do not be afraid" so many times in the bible I thought I would look at this more closely. The word "afraid" appears in the bible more than 200 times. It's a big problem for us. Many of the phrases attached to this word begin like this, "Do not be afraid..." Here's a few verses I picked from the more than 200 in the Bible and then my thoughts...
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Luke 12:4"I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more.
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Luke 12:7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
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Psalm 27:1[ Of David. ] The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?
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Psalm 56:3When I am afraid, I will trust in you.
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Psalm 56:4In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?
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Psalm 56:11in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
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Psalm 118:6The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
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It appears, from these verses and many others, that fear is a natural part of the fallen human nature. It isn't the way we were meant to be because God is constantly telling us not to fear, so it's clear this was not part of his design, but is part of the fall. In fact it's the first emotion after the fall. Notice these words from Genesis,
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Genesis 3:8-11 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"
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It appears that from the fall on we have been plagued with fear. It's the first result of sin and separation from God. It's a clear sign that we do not trust him. Why did Adam fear? He had a loving relationship with God. There was no reason for fear, but there it was, alive because of sin, and now God must constantly tell us, "do not be afraid." Jesus was constantly dealing with this and giving its solution to the disciples. In the boat on the lake he said, "why are you afraid, where is your faith?" and with those words gave us the cure and contrast to fear. When we are fearful we are not trusting God. Fear is me apart from God and the natural emotions that seperation generates. But God's constant word to us is this, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom." If fear is my problem, faith is its cure. Faith in the right one...the one who is able to calm my nervous heart. Faith in the only one who can-God. So this morning, as you begin your day, let me encourage you with God's constant and gentle admonition to us, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom."
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