Scripture:
Matthew 10:27-31 NKJV
[27] “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. [28] And do not fear those who kill the body but can not kill the soul. But rather fear Him, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. [29] Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? Not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. [30] But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. [31] Do not fear. Therefore, you are of more value than many sparrows.
Observation:
This passage got my attention this morning. Jesus explains to the people that fear of what they think is not important. What GOD thinks should be where our attention should be placed. HE is going to speak things to us that will need to be said, and we need not fear saying them. I believe the point of what Jesus is teaching those around HIM is that in their quiet time with the Father, HE is going to speak things into their Spirit. These things are not to be kept to themselves but told to everyone. There was a warning behind the instructions, though. HE knew that what they would hear would go against the common belief and teaching of that time, and there would be a tendency to be afraid of saying it because of the reactions of those whom they would be speaking to. HIS encouragement to them was not to be afraid. Man is only capable of taking physical life. He can not take eternal life, and if we are going to have any fear, it should be properly placed on the one who has that ability. The one who can put us in the place of weeping and gnashing of teeth. The things that are revealed to them in their time with HIM need to be spoken and without fear of what others might think. In verse 29, we see that GOD thinks of us as valuable, and HE is aware of everything that is going on. Our value is by no means small, and we need to understand that HE is in control and totally aware of everything that is going on. Nothing was or is going to happen that is out of HIS control. So our fear can be placed on the one who created us and what HE thinks and no one else.
Application:
I knew when I took on this ministry that I would have to speak the truth, and that meant I would probably lose some friends. But I am responsible for what GOD says, and whether or not you like me doesn’t matter. What the bible says is what it says, and that’s all that matters. If you disagree, you can take that up with GOD. I do my best not to speak my opinion of what the bible says but instead say what the bible says, and if it’s my opinion, I tend to specify that it’s my opinion. I know that there are people who have been offended by some of these SOAPS, and in a way, I’m sorry, but in a way, I’m not some of us only want to hear the fluffy stuff that’s in the bible so we pick and choose what we read and who we listen to and as long as it goes along with what we want to hear we are OK. The Bible talks about that as well. By saying this in the end times, they will run towards preaching, which tickles their ears. In other words, feel-good stuff. The word of GOD is a two-edged sword. It’s made to correct and reprove. If we don’t allow our behavior to be corrected by what it says, then we are in danger. We should live our lives craving to be shaped and molded by its life-giving reproof. I am responsible for what the word of GOD says, and if I put it out there with fear of man or woman in mind, I will have to answer for that. Whether you like me or not doesn’t matter. It’s not your approval I seek. We can’t take just the parts we like and build doctrine around them. We have to look at the whole counsel of GOD and consider what it says. If we are not careful, we could end up a bunch of milk-fed fluffy people chasing after our flesh because we cherry-pick what we want to hear and think the rest doesn’t pertain to us. Every word that is in the bible is able to teach reprove edify and build us up the men and women that HE created us to be. Excusing the parts away, we don’t like or don’t care for is prideful and dangerous. My cry out this morning is this change your life to fit what GOD’S word says…don’t change GOD’S word to fit the life you want to live.
Prayer:
Father, it is a fearful thing to fall into your hands if we are not doing what you have asked us. You are able to put us in places that affect our eternal soul. Give us a boldness that can not be questioned along with a desire to speak your truth without a filter. What we say is your truth, and it offends someone. Change the heart of the person, and if what we say is not your truth, help us to understand you better. This whole thing is not about us and our pride. It’s about you and your kingdom. We never want to stand here thinking we have it all figured out. Our temporal life will never be able to understand eternity until we pass from death to life. You are such an amazing GOD. Give us the wisdom to understand you better. Help us to see how to approach every situation without fear knowing that you, Father, are for us, and because you are for us, no one can stand in the way. Give us wisdom and boldness with kind hearts. Let us speak the truth in love so as not to cut off the ears of those who need to hear. However, let us not water down what you are saying to fit a sinfilled lifestyle. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus I pray amen.