If we’re looking to find our well-being from winning the approval and avoiding the disapproval of other people, we’ll only get disappointed, exhausted, and feel even more insecure. Being a people-pleaser may compromise how we share our message, for its truth challenges, exposes, provokes, and central to it is the ‘offence of the cross’ (Galatians 5:11). It’s also the truth that brings comfort when we share it (vs 26,27; 2 Corinthians 1:3). Consider how much fear impacts your freedom to ‘proclaim from the roofs’ what Jesus has done for you.

Proverbs 29:25 says, ‘Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe’. The solution is to come afresh to the realisation of who God is and how he values us. Fear of the Lord is a foundation of learning to live wisely (Proverbs 1:7), and ‘Happy are those who fear the Lord’ (Psalm 112:1, NRSV) for obedience commands his blessing. We fear God by showing him reverence as our honoured Father to whom we owe everything! He adopted us to share Christ’s glory and supplies our needs to endure Christ’s suffering in his service (vs 24,25). Serving in his power means we won’t need to fear his judgement (vs 32,33).

‘If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.’¹ What do you think Paul means by this?

In today’s passage, Jesus warns his disciples not to be afraid of people. This is not because he believes God will protect them from all harm. Indeed, he warns them that following him will lead them into dangerous situations: just as people treated Jesus badly, even calling him Satan (Beelzebul, v 25), so they will treat his followers. 

How can Jesus expect his disciples not to be afraid after dropping such a bombshell! His focus seems to be on the disciples’ actions, not their emotions: it is not the feeling of fear that mainly concerns him here, but rather that this emotion will hold them back from wholeheartedly following him. To help prevent this, he reminds them that this life and its sufferings are not all there is, warning them not to lose sight of the reality of eternal rewards and judgement. He also reassures them that even though there is suffering involved in following, this does not mean we are of little value to God. The Lord watches over the life of each tiny sparrow, so how much more does he care about everything we are going through? Our lives are ultimately in his hands and we can trust in his care and provision to help us through anything.

This is still tough teaching, though. It is easier to focus on the joys of discipleship than its costs. What happens after death is often not at the forefront of our minds, yet this passage suggests that it should motivate us in the here and now. Recognising that this life is not all there is helps us to make the sacrifices involved in following Christ and to choose the narrow, more difficult road, knowing that our efforts will ultimately be rewarded. How does believing in life after death affect you?

Does fear hold you back from serving God wholeheartedly? Pray for help to overcome those fears and for a fresh sense of God’s love and the joy of heaven.

¹ 1 Cor 15:19, NRSV