“My People? Don’t You Worry About A Thing!”

By Lou Yeboah

“I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.” [Martin Luther King, Jr.]. God has chosen us out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession. The LORD did not set his affection on us and chose us, because we were more numerous than other peoples, for we were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved us and is keeping the oath He swore to our forefathers that He brought out with a mighty hand and redeemed from the land of slavery. [Deuteronomy 7:6-8]. We have been elected. He chose us. Let that continue to encourage you and give you confidence that He will keep you until the end.

Yes, we are the peculiar people of God; all His own, closest to His affections, under His protection, the recipients of all needed. I tell you, don’t you worry about a thing, because God got you! I’m reminded of when the Children of Israel who had come to what seemed like the end of their journey on the banks of Jordan, Moses told them to go on ahead. They began to wonder what would happen to them next, and the Lord said tell them… “Be strong and of a good courage, do not fear, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you… [Deuteronomy 31:6]. My people, “I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land.”  We are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God’s possession.” [1 Peter 2:9].

Therefore, “Do not think its strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. [1 Peter 4:12-14]. For we’ve come “Out of Africa” now into the wilderness.  But God has promised to be with us every step of the way.  I tell you, don’t you worry about a thing, God got you!

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written: “… we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. [Romans 8:31-39].

Take this confident assurance forward with you through whatever trial or hazard besets you, and faithfully prepare to cross the Jordan, into the land that Christ has giving unto us as He promised to Moses.  From the wilderness and the Lebanon as far as the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, to the Great Sea in the west shall be our territory. Moving forward knowing that no one shall be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As God was with Moses, so He will be with you; For He said, “I will not fail you or forsake you.  Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to act in accordance with all the law that His servant Moses commanded us, Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, so that you may be successful wherever you go.  [Joshua 1:1-11]. For, He said, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, so they will know that I will be with you just as I was with Moses. [Joshua 3:7-8].

I tell you, having monuments to God’s faithfulness that we can look back on can encourage our faith for the future. [Joshua chapter 4]. Even when it seems like we’re not making any progress, the Lord’s command is: “FORWARD MARCH!” [Exodus 14].  

Advancing with confidence to that promised inheritance as we celebrate Black History Month!

“Lift every voice and sing, Till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of Liberty. Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us. Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us. Facing the rising sun of our new day begun. Let us march on till victory is won..” [Lift Every Voice and Sing – often called “The Black National Anthem” – was written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938) and then set to music by his brother John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954) in 1899.]