WHY BE AFRAID?

As we drove along in the car Andy suddenly called out,

‘Grandpa, there’s a policeman. I’m going to bob down and hide.’

‘That’s unnecessary,’ said his Grandpa.

‘Yes, he might catch us, ‘said the lad, as he slid off the seat, and hid on the car floor. Now and then he bobbed up to be sure the policeman was not following us.7

‘Please sit on your seat,’ urged Grandpa kindly. ‘You do not need to hide.’

‘But Grandpa, the policeman might see me.’

‘Have you done something wrong today that makes you scared of the policeman?’

‘No,’ as Andy scrambled from the floor and sat on the seat. ‘But the policeman might stop us.’

‘Why should a policeman wish to stop our car if we are innocent? I am not breaking the speed limit, and am obeying the traffic signs, even though Gran and I come from another state. ‘

‘But he might catch us’, persisted Andy.

‘The policeman is your friend,’ explained Grandpa, ‘ and so you do not need to fear him. If we disobeyed the law, we could expect his rebuke, and a possible fine.’

‘You do not steal or hit the boys at school?’

‘Of course not, Grandpa.’

‘Then the policeman is your friend when you behave. If you lose your way you may confidently ask a policeman to help you find your way home. He acts for our safety, and helps people in trouble.’

At last Andy nodded, and patted Grandpa on his shoulder, and sat back happily in his seat, convinced that he had nothing to fear from the policeman.

God watches over us to care for us. But He also knows when we disobey His safety rules. However, when we admit to God that we have done something wrong, and ask His forgiveness, we are not afraid because God is our Heavenly Father and our loving Friend.

A verse to memorise:

I have hidden God’s Word in my heart, that I will not sin against Him.

(Psalm 119:11)