1/8/10 Matthew 10 – Do not Fear
There are a number of things that cause us to fear. The greatest of all fears is probably the fear of death. Without an assurance of salvation in Jesus Christ there is nothing but fear. That assurance is not based on my works or morality (Eph 2:8-9,Titus 3:5). My assurance is based on the person, work, and merit of Jesus Christ (2 Cor 3:4). Here in Matthew 10 Jesus sends out His disciples to proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. He gives them instructions on how to go about proclaiming this message.
The disciples may have anticipated that this message would be received with joy and gladness, but that is not the case. In fact, 2000 years later it is still not the case. As His disciples today we are to be praying for “the kingdom to come” (Mt 6:10) and telling people “the kingdom is at hand.” Jesus tells His disciples that they can expect resistance and persecution to this message. The good news is we do not need to fear. When we are obediently following the Lord and are counted with Jesus, we can know that our Father in heaven is fully aware of what is taking place. Our Father knows when a sparrow falls, he knows the very number of hairs on our head. We do not need to fear, because we are of great value to our Father in heaven.
Jesus tells us that we are not to fear those who can kill the body, for they cannot kill the soul (Mt 10:28). Just as we read in Matthew 1 & 2, God met Joseph’s fears and led him faithfully. We can know when death comes knocking at our door through physical disease or physical persecution, we do not need to fear. That confidence and promise is only for those who have confessed Jesus before men, and daily take their cross to follow Him. Have you confessed Him as Savior and Lord? Are you following Him today?
Prayer: I praise You Father in heaven. I praise You for your watchful care over me. I thank You that You know me and my circumstances intimately. I thank You that nothing can touch my life apart from your divine will. I thank You that I do not have to fear. The truth is that I do fear when I trust in myself and not in You. Forgive me when my faith falters. I ask that You would increase my faith in You, so that my fears shrink and my trust in You would expand. Amen