READING: Judges 7:24-9:57, Luke 11:37-12:7
I confess that I think too little about persecuted believers around the world. In the general ease of my Christian experience, I don’t often think deeply about our brothers and sisters who daily face the reality that their faith could cost them much—even their lives.
They’ve grown to understand Jesus’ words to His followers: “I say to you, my friends, don’t fear those who kill the body, and after that can do nothing more. But I will show you the one to fear: Fear him who has authority to throw people into hell after death. Yes, I say to you, this is the one to fear!” (Luke 12:4-5). It makes little sense to fear those who can kill us, for that’s the worst they can do—and then heaven awaits those who know Christ. The one we must fear is God, who makes the call on our eternal destiny. In fact, Jesus speaks twice about fearing God, thus emphasizing His point.
At the same time, though, this God knows the tiniest details of our lives, and He cares about all of them. He counts the very hairs of our head. We matter to Him. We need not fear anything or anyone else, but we need to respond to Him in love and obedience.
PRAYER: “Father, I don’t want to let my fears control me. Remind me to fear and follow only You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Judges 10-11, Luke 12:8-34