Sunday Class @ 9am; Worship @ 10am & 5pm
Articles
“Do Not Fear”
Jesus said that we should have no fear when it comes to suffering for faithfully serving Him. When sending out the twelve in Matthew 10, He told them three times, “Do not fear...” Why should we have no fear?
All will be made right. Jesus said, “Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known” (:26). While it may seem that justice is not being served at the moment, God will bring all things to light and make all things right. Both we and those who persecute us will receive our just reward (1 Tim 5:24-25). For the faithful, that means to fearlessly keep proclaiming the word of God. “Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Cor 15:58).
The soul is more precious than the body. Jesus continued by saying, “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (:28). Many people fear the death of their body but give little thought to the death of their soul. Jesus put things in perspective by emphasizing saving the soul over saving the body. We should not fear physical death if that is what it takes to save the soul. “What will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (Matt 16:26).
God will take care of us. Next Jesus asked, “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows” (:29-31). If God cares about every sparrow in the sky and every hair of our head, then surely He cares about what happens to His servants.
Christ will confess us. Then Jesus said, “Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven” (:32). If we acknowledge Christ in our lives, even when facing persecution and/or death, then we have the promise that He will acknowledge us to the Father. Otherwise He will deny us (:33). He has already declared that He will tell the lawless, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (7:23). Nothing any man can do to us should be feared more than hearing those words from God.
By faithfully serving God we have nothing to fear and Heaven with Him to gain.
