Passage Read: Matthew 9-10
Meditation Verse: 10:28
Thought
Believing in Jesus should in effect make me fearless, because I should no longer fear any man. The only one I should fear is God Himself. Of course, this is not a fearlessness that comes from believing I'm indestructible and therefore can do any crazy stunt. This is a fearlessness in proclaiming the truth about God and His Son Jesus, proclaiming Jesus as the coming King, His standard of righteousness the standard by which all men will be judged, and Jesus Himself the only means of forgiveness and transformation. Jesus makes it clear that we are easily captured, tormented and killed. We're not in any way indestructible, except as God chooses to protect us as His emissaries. But we're cannon fodder, in terms of this life. We're called into Christ with a call to die to ourselves and carry our cross. The only fear that should control me is a fear of missing out on salvation, because salvation means there is eternal life waiting for me on the other side of death.
Application
Because God has promised eternal life and has proven He can deliver on that promise, I should have no fear of losing this life, but only a fear of missing out on that promise! God is the judge, and I want to be found faithful to Him by Him, so He alone is who I should fear. What does He want from me? What can I do for Him, to honor and please Him? No matter what it cost me, that's what should drive me and consume me, even if men determine to kill me for it. There is nothing in this life I should fear losing, even this life itself. The only thing I should fear is offending or disobeying or dishonoring God.