So have no fear of them… Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
These words of Jesus come on the heals of the sobering truth that persecution, division, and total reliance on God (even to the point of knowing what to say on His behalf) awaits His disciples. It’s not comfortable to think or talk about.
Certainly, the persecution and cost related to sharing about Jesus as a part of living as a disciple of Jesus varies culture to culture. Where the Gospel challenges long-standing traditions and beliefs in a society, persecution will look much different than in places where Judeo-Christian beliefs shaped the thought processes of and creation of a culture.* Even so, fundamentally, the message and person of Christ serves as a counter-cultural reality that requires the hearer to evaluate and choose for whom they will serve. The person of Christ requires a choice of a life lived for self, or a life lived for God. This is not a small choice, and one that many find anger in being asked to make.
In this context, Jesus does not invite us to live a life absent of fear. He does not tell His disciples to “have no fear.” He tells the disciples not to fear those who would persecute; He instructs the disciples to fear the Lord. The approach that Jesus takes toward fear does not look like removing fear, but it looks like pointing it in the right direction. Jesus wants us to point our fear in the direction of the One who is worthy of it.
There are many reasons to fear. My wife and I are embarking on a journey into the unknown. We don’t have to pause long to think of a long list of things to fear, and, yes, persecution may be on that list. Even when persecution is as simple as a rejection, it hurts. But, we have decided to fear God instead. We have decided to turn our eyes and ears and hearts toward Him, allowing His every word to guide our steps. We have decided to pass every step we take through the lens of “how will this impact my relationship with Christ?”
We aren’t very good at it, I’ll admit. Fearing everything but God comes a lot more naturally to us. But, the supernatural presence and power of the Holy Spirit gives us what we need to fear God above all else. Lord help us.
Today, take a step.
Maybe today the one step God wants you to take is to live a life of testimony for Christ. Perhaps He is calling you to step out and be missional where you are… or somewhere else! Maybe God is asking you to trade your fear of those who persecute for a fear of Him. Perhaps God wants to give you what you need to live for Him in a supernatural way.
Whatever the step, ask God to direct it. Take a moment to take that step. Invite Him to speak. He will.
Life is a long road. Walk it with Jesus. Take a step today… just one is fine.
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*Leon, Morris, The Gospel According to Matthew. Pillar New Testament Commentary (Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1992), 251–263, and Keener, C. S., Matthew (Vol. 1, Mt 10:16–28) (InterVarsity Press, 1997).