Fear God
Being Afraid – Part 1
Scripture Reading: Matthew 10:21-31
Key Verse: Matthew 10:28
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
In our passage of scripture for today, Jesus is explaining, to those that would choose to follow Him, what they should fear. Like so many kingdom principles, this is the opposite of what is natural. If we are going to be kingdom people, we must fight the natural and learn to live as Jesus taught.
Jesus is forecasting the persecution that is coming for His followers. He wants us to be prepared that our future is likely to be more pain than promotion in this world. This persecution is far more than name calling! In verse 21 Jesus speaks of people being put to death. To follow Jesus in this life is not going to be an easy walk!
Then Jesus gives us the kingdom principle that challenges our very beings: “no matter what you face, do not be afraid.” With eternity very much a reality in Jesus’ perspective, He proclaims: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul” (vs. 28). Wow! That is truly opposite of our natural instincts; anyone who threatens to kill us causes great fear within us! Jesus was challenging His followers to never stop sharing the good news of the kingdom simply because of the coming resistance to it.
The fear that we should have is the subject of tomorrow’s devotional. For today, let’s learn to live without the fear of men.
Father, I will need your divine help if I am to live courageously today. Grant me your strength and power over fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.