5 Minute Read

Prepare Your Heart

To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.

Read God’s Word

Genesis 31:22-32:32
Matthew 10:26-42

A Verse for Today

Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.

Matthew 10:28 (CSB): “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Reflecting on God’s Word

Following Jesus will always make enemies. For various reasons, many people don’t like being around someone who takes Jesus’ claims and commands seriously while striving to live accordingly.

Fortunately, those of us who live in the United States of America still enjoy the benefits of the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights. Written in plain English, the First Amendment gives us the right to exercise our religion and speak freely about it.

First Amendment: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, …”

This sort of freedom is rare in the history of the world. Throughout time, people have been persecuted and killed for following Jesus (or the claims of other religions or non-religion). I have read multiple stories of Christians who bravely went to their deaths for proclaiming the Gospel, translating the Bible into the people’s language, or any number of other actions.

As Jesus spoke to His followers in Matthew 10:28, He assumed that many of them (us) would face the threat of death for following Him. He told us not to be afraid of those who threaten to kill us.

That runs counter to how we think. When someone aims a gun or waves a knife at us, or walks us to our death in some other form, fear would seem appropriate. It would seem natural.

But Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid.” Why? Well, for Jesus-followers, death is the doorway to our eternal home. Once we step through the doorway to the other side and are with our Lord Jesus, we will wonder why we ever feared death.

However, Jesus doesn’t stop there. He tells us not to fear those who would kill us for following Him, but then He tells us to fear God.

Matthew 10:28 (CSB): “Don’t fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

If the death of a believer sends them to Heaven, then we realize that God has taken something horrible and ugly and turned it into something for which we are incredibly thankful. But if someone doesn’t have a relationship with God because they aren’t trusting in Jesus for forgiveness and eternal life, then death sends them to Hell, and God is the one who sends them there.

Therefore, God is to be feared. But we need to say a brief word about this.

For an unbeliever, God is to be feared because at any moment, He can send an unbeliever to an eternity (that never ends) in a fiery, Christless, horrifying Hell.

But for a believer, God is to be “feared” because we stand in awe of someone so powerful. We don’t want to sin knowing that He can punish us (in love). But we also stand in awe of who He is and are amazed that we get to call Him our Heavenly Father.

So, if you are a believer, don’t be afraid of death or of anyone who threatens to take your life. Death is the doorway to your faith becoming sight.

But if you are not trusting in Jesus for salvation, you had better fear God. At any moment, He could take your life from you, and you would forever be separated from Him. But He loves you so much that He paid your sin debt if you will only trust in Jesus to make you right in God’s eyes. Why not trust in Jesus to save you today!

Spend Time in Prayer

  • Ask God to help you see that the only one you need to “fear” is Him.
  • Ask God to give you the courage and wisdom to live for Him boldly and share the Gospel courageously.
  • Thank Him that Heaven awaits you when this life is done.

Going Deeper

If you want to dig a little deeper into Matthew 10:28, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:

“Why are we told, “Do not fear those who can kill the body” in Matthew 10:28?”

“How can I be saved?”

Sharing

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Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com)