Reading: Luke 12:4-7
And I say unto you my friends, “Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him. Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.”
The passage that we are reading today is part of the Lord’s teaching that we began to read in the previous installment, where we learned that God cannot be deceived (as the Pharisees intended to do).
Immediately after that, Jesus says to the crowd, “Do not be afraid of those who impose meaningless burdens on you, who try to govern you by filling you with fear, who take advantage of you. God is the only one who is to be feared.”
The religious leaders established among the people a faith in God based in fear. Whoever broke the law was subjected to the wrath of these jealous believers. Still, the most terrible thing they could do to a person was kill them (How many believers like Steven were unfairly stoned to death?) But Jesus tells them, they can only kill your body (and that’s terrible) but not your soul.
Who do we fear? We fear God.
It is not a fear that paralyzes. It is a fear based on trust. Nothing happens in this world unless God allows it. He takes care of us. He is in absolute control and is sovereign in all circumstances. Yes, all.
Therefore, even in suffering and persecution, knowing that we are loved is our security and the anchor of our hearts.
He saved us and guaranteed our destiny: being with He for eternity. I only fear Him, not anything or anyone else.

MEDITATE: What do we fear? What produces anguish or anxiety in our heart? Trust, you are His.

Translation By: Emily Stader