"The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)
In the nineteenth century, Mary Slessor was one of Scotland's boldest and most fearless woman missionaries. Her calling was not an easy one. Assigned to a missions station in Nigeria, she had to stand up against the evil and wicked practices that were once prevalent in West Africa. These included idol worship, murder, the offering of human sacrifices, slavery, the torture of women and children, and the mutilation of infants.
In opposing these evils, Mary was resisted by tribal chiefs and witch doctors, and probably had more death threats and curses spoken over her than any other man or woman in Africa! Yet, none of these things moved her. Mary knew that the Lord was on her side, and that she was under His protection day and night. On one occasion she even physically restrained a witch doctor from harming his victim! The local people were amazed by her fearlessness and realized that it was the power of God that always protected her.
The courage of this great Scottish missionary reminds me of a well-known proverb of Solomon: "The wicked flee when no one pursues, but the righteous are bold as a lion" (Prov. 28:1). Because the Lord Jesus Christ is always with us (Matt. 28:20), there is never any reason to become anxious or fearful. All who are in Christ are under His divine protection, day and night. Although darkness may be present in many different forms in Africa, the believer need never be alarmed by witch doctors, satanists, sangomas, and their evil spells and curses. These hold no power over our lives, for we have the God of Israel watching over us. ("For there is no sorcery against Jacob, nor any divination against Israel." Num. 23:23a).
Christian, "be strong and of good courage...And the LORD, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed" (Deut. 31:7-8). Learn from the boldness of Mary Slessor. If you are a child of God, you may truly say, "The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" (Psalm 118:6)
In His strong love,
Demitri
