Tuesday, October 28 | Fearing the Right One
Day 2: Fearing the Right One
Reading: Matthew 10:28; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
Devotional:
"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Jesus offers what might be the strangest comfort in Scripture: "Don't worry—all they can do is kill you." This isn't flippant dismissal of suffering; it's radical reorientation of our fear.
We live in a culture of misplaced fear. We're terrified of social media backlash, afraid of losing friendships, anxious about career consequences, worried about family tension—all because we might be identified too closely with Jesus. Meanwhile, we're remarkably casual about the One who holds our eternal destiny in His hands.
The fear of the Lord is not cowering terror but awesome reverence. It's standing before a volcano and recognizing both its terrible power and magnificent beauty. It's the healthy fear that draws us toward God rather than away from Him. Proverbs tells us this fear is the beginning of wisdom—the foundation of a properly ordered life.
When we fear God rightly, all other fears find their proper proportion. Persecution becomes "light momentary affliction." Rejection becomes bearable. Even death loses its ultimate sting because we know the One who conquered the grave and holds our soul secure.
Your life is but a vapor, James reminds us. You were bought with a price, Paul declares. The life you're so afraid to lose isn't really yours to begin with. And the God who owns it loves you more than you can imagine.
Reflection Questions:
Prayer: Father, forgive me for fearing people more than I fear You. Teach me holy reverence that leads to wisdom. Help me remember that my life belongs to You, and that nothing can touch my soul without Your permission. Let the fear of the Lord be my foundation.
Reading: Matthew 10:28; Proverbs 1:7; 9:10
Devotional:
"Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell."
Jesus offers what might be the strangest comfort in Scripture: "Don't worry—all they can do is kill you." This isn't flippant dismissal of suffering; it's radical reorientation of our fear.
We live in a culture of misplaced fear. We're terrified of social media backlash, afraid of losing friendships, anxious about career consequences, worried about family tension—all because we might be identified too closely with Jesus. Meanwhile, we're remarkably casual about the One who holds our eternal destiny in His hands.
The fear of the Lord is not cowering terror but awesome reverence. It's standing before a volcano and recognizing both its terrible power and magnificent beauty. It's the healthy fear that draws us toward God rather than away from Him. Proverbs tells us this fear is the beginning of wisdom—the foundation of a properly ordered life.
When we fear God rightly, all other fears find their proper proportion. Persecution becomes "light momentary affliction." Rejection becomes bearable. Even death loses its ultimate sting because we know the One who conquered the grave and holds our soul secure.
Your life is but a vapor, James reminds us. You were bought with a price, Paul declares. The life you're so afraid to lose isn't really yours to begin with. And the God who owns it loves you more than you can imagine.
Reflection Questions:
- What human fear currently has more influence over your decisions than your fear of God?
- How does understanding God's authority over your eternal destiny change your perspective on temporary suffering?
- In what area of life do you need to remember that you were "bought with a price"?
Prayer: Father, forgive me for fearing people more than I fear You. Teach me holy reverence that leads to wisdom. Help me remember that my life belongs to You, and that nothing can touch my soul without Your permission. Let the fear of the Lord be my foundation.