Fear the Right Stuff

June 7

(Luke 12:4-7 NIV) “I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. {5} But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. {6} Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies ? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. {7} Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”

(Matthew 10:28-29 NIV) “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 apart from the will of your Father.”

We all deal with fear. It is a natural human emotion. But Jesus taught that we should fear the right stuff. We should fear judgment more than death. We are prone to put personal survival ahead of everything else. We can be tempted to deny Christ when threatened in some way. We can do this verbally, or with silence. We forget that our souls are destined to outlive our bodies. We fear death more than we fear God. This is a mistake. The God who knows when a sparrow falls and who knows how many hairs are on your head, also knows how to take care of us. Our souls will be cared for when the time comes for us to leave this world and step into the next. Believers, we will not be forgotten or forsaken by God when we die. Jesus is Lord. Fear judgment more than you fear for your life. Fear God more than you fear death. This will change everything. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day