KEY SCRIPTURES: Luke 12:1-5
In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. 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.
RELEVANCE
How deep the Father's love for us,
How vast beyond all measure!
That He should give His only Son,
To make a wretch His treasure.
How great the pain of searing loss!
The Father turns His face away;
As wounds which marred the Chosen One,
Bring many sons to glory
This wonderful hymn by Stuart Townsend ably interprets the depth of love bestowed upon us by our heavenly Father and His only begotten Son. Love indeed opens the way for many to come to glory through the saving blood of Jesus Christ.
In our key scripture, Jesus, through His love, explains something we all need to take to heart about our decisions. He illustrates an imperceptible difference between the true shepherd and those who are merely shepherds on the outside. Jesus said in John 10:27, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. He is hoping we hear Him, know Him, and follow Him on this point of fear that He's making clear.
God has supreme control over our bodies as well as our invisible elements that pass beyond death. But we often get confused and lose trust if the wrong fear reigns. Jesus covers an essential point about fear—that perfect love casts out fear. But fear of whom? When we trade love for fear, we hand over control of our destiny to the felonious shepherds commissioned by Satan.
Jesus furnishes us with a warning that fear is necessary, but whom we fear is critical. He points out that God holds the overall power of Heaven and Hell, not those who would hold us to ransom through our fear of bodily death.
In this short biblical dialogue, Jesus informs us that we are made of more than flesh and blood and not to fear those who only have power over life on earth and nothing further, of which most of our eternal life is made.
Jesus understands that people struggle with the concept of an invisible spirit and soul because they cannot see beyond the physical. Even people of faith find it hard to believe what they can't see with their own eyes, which actually brings to life the fear of death. This is why Jesus comforts them with His love and friendship, 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.
We must comprehend what He is saying. That there is nothing further than death that humans can do to us. It sounds like a lot, and some complexities come with that. But God holds the tickets beyond that temporal region.
What a wonderful blessing to find that this life is not the end. How beautiful to appreciate that Jesus died so we may enjoy a life so grand it's impossible to dream.
PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank you that my fear of people need not reign in me. But my fear of you must be greater than anything else. Help me allow perfect love to influence my every feeling and decision.
Photo by Michael Kroul