COMMANDS34 (Afraid): Goodbook 09-11-15

One of our challenges for 2015 is to learn and live all 50 commands of Jesus. Jesus told us that following his commandments is a way to love him and a way for his love and his joy to fill our lives (John 15:9-12). In his Great Commission, Jesus tells his followers to make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything he commanded us (Matthew 28:19-20). So each week in this year we are learning and living one command of Jesus. Here is our command for this week...

Week 34:

“What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 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. 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. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows,” (Matthew 10:27-31).

Application:

Are you afraid? I think all of us are afraid of something or someone. When we were little it might have been a fear of the dark or of a monster? As we grow older, there are other things to fear – failure, illness, terrorism, dips in the economy, job loss, loneliness, etc. Sometimes fear can paralyze us. Other times it is a more subtle force that hinders us and holds us back from living the life we want to live.

Just as fear can get in the way of living out our daily activities, it can also get in the way of living out our faith. We might fear what other people will say or think or do if we boldly live out our faith. Jesus speaks against this fear in our command for the day. He recognizes that fear of others might hold us back from proclaiming the Good News of Jesus for all to hear. So he offers us a little perspective.

At first the perspective seems to be a scare tactic. Jesus says, “Don’t fear people. They can only kill your body. Fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell.” Yikes! If I wasn’t scared before, I am now. But Jesus’ intent is not to scare us. He follows this strong statement with another gentler statement. He says, “A sparrow doesn’t fall to the ground without God knowing about it, and we are worth more to God than many sparrows. So don’t be afraid.”

Ok, which is it? Am I to be scared or not? The answer is NOT. The command “Do not be afraid,” is one of the most common commands from God in the Bible. Some estimate it appears in the Bible between 145-365 times. Each time, God assures people they do not have to be afraid because we have a God who loves us, who is with us, who will take care of us, and who is bigger and stronger than anything or anyone we can face in the world. In this passage Jesus emphasizes God’s power and love, not necessarily to scare us, but to remind us we do not have to be afraid with him as our God.

One of my favorite stories related to this is told by missionary John G. Paton. Paton and his family were pioneer missionaries to islands in the South Pacific that now make up the nation of Vanuatu. One night hostile natives surrounded his headquarters intent on burning the Patons out and killing them. John and his wife prayed all night. They awoke in the morning to find the attackers had left. A year later, the chief of the tribe became a follower of Jesus. John asked the chief why they did not attack that night. The chief explained that they were afraid to attack because they saw hundreds of big men standing guard in shining garments with drawn swords in their hands.” Only then did Paton realize God sent angels to protect and care for them. Christianity, by the way is now the predominant religion of Vanuatu!

We do not have to be afraid to live out our faith because we have a God who loves us, who is with us, who will take care of us, and who is bigger and stronger than anything or anyone we can face in the world. Even if we are faced with death, God is bigger and stronger than death. Jesus conquered the grave so all who believe in him can have the hope of eternal life.

So think about your faith life. Where is fear holding you back? Are you afraid to talk about your faith with others? Are you afraid to serve in a particular ministry or mission opportunity? Are you afraid to step up as a leader? Are you afraid to give a tenth of your income or beyond back to God? Are you afraid to surrender an area of sin or brokenness to God? Are you afraid of something else? We do not have to be afraid to live out our faith because we have a powerful God who loves us and is with us!

So this week…

1. Identify an area in your faith life where fear is holding you back.
2. Remind yourself that you have a God who loves you, who is with you, who will take care of you, and who is bigger and stronger than anything or anyone you can face in the world.
3. Pray for God’s help and then face your fear head on with action. 

Share your comments and application ideas…