Daily Word Of God
Matthew 10:16-20, 22
Jesus instructed the Twelve as follows: ‘The disciple is not superior to teacher, nor slave to master. It is enough for disciple to grow to be like teacher, and slave like master. If they have called the master of the house “Beelzebul”, how much more the members of his household?
‘So do not be afraid of them. Everything now covered up will be uncovered, and everything now hidden will be made clear. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops.
‘Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- What does fear have to do with the kingdom of God? Fear is a powerful force when it threatens our lives. So, Jesus assures us that we should not be crippled by them because they do not rob us of our eternal life.
- However, if “divine fear” helps us to revere God more fully because He is almighty and we are mere finite creatures, then such “fear” is good as it helps us to be humble and submissive to God’s Will in our lives.
- A “healthy fear” of God is the ideal as it helps us to mature in our relationship with Him. This relationship with God frees us from our sinful pride and cowardice — especially in the face of evil and spiritual deception.