SCRIPTURE:
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. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[b] 30 And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
Matthew 10:28-31
OBSERVATION:
What we fear many times because what controls our lives. In fact, one person said, “if you fear man, you will fear everything, but if you fear God you will fear nothing,” not even death makes you afraid. Why? Because, we know that there is something even more terrifying than death, namely the wrath of God. He could kill the body and throw the soul into eternal destruction. However, His greatest desire is to care for us. He states, “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care…So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
In fact He counts every hair on our head. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in me. Therefore, we are liberated by fearing the terrifying, good God that fights for us. We are liberated by fearing the right thing, namely God, and recognizing that He died for us.
APPLICATION:
I am free from the fear of man because I fear the power of God. However, that power now doesn’t destroy us, but desires to save us, reconstruct us, and renew us. I remember when my mom asked me if I was scared to speak at New Hope. I lied and said “no.” I later said “yes” expecting her to comfort me. She said “remember it’s not about you.” Woah. I was offended, but I soon realized that those words would change the rest of my life. When I care about what man says it’s all about self preservation, but when I care about what God thinks I am no longer worried about being approved by man, but about being pleasing to the Lord. Freedom was found when I gave more gravity to the voice of God rather than the opinion of man. I am liberated by the right fear.
PRAYER:
Lord would You guide me to fix my eyes on You.. When I fear You and fix my eyes on You I don’t fear anymore and only seek to obey You. Would You help me to see the riches of your kindness. Amen.
