“When you are arrested, don’t worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking—it will be the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.”
Matthew 10:19-20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.10.19-20.NLT
The 10th chapter of Matthew recounts the specific message, authority, and instructions the 12 disciples will need as they travel throughout Israel sharing the coming of the Kingdom of God through Jesus Christ.
Reflection
In part 4 the focus is on what to do with fear. Jesus could not be clearer:
- Don’t be afraid, God your Father will take care of you: “But don’t be afraid of those who threaten you. For the time is coming when everything that is covered will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all.
“Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell. What is the price of two sparrows—one copper coin? But not a single sparrow can fall to the ground without your Father knowing it. And the very hairs on your head are all numbered.
So don’t be afraid; you are more valuable to God than a whole flock of sparrows.” Matthew 10:26, 28-31 NLT.
Encouragement
In these short verses Jesus wants us to know there is no level of threat or danger that God isn’t capable of meeting head on.
Even if this costs us our lives here on earth, what God has in store is far beyond anything we can think or imagine.
As we are on mission for God, trust him and set fear aside.
Thankfully the peace of God is greater than evil’s strongest forms of fear thrown at us.
God is with us. We can trust him.
Prayer
Dear Jesus,
Thank you for being so clear with us on how to respond to fear.
Thank you for the invitation to trust God in all matters of threat and harm.
Thank you for reminding us that, even if our life is taken for following you, God will be with us through it all.
Thank you for truth that there is so much more in store for us when we are with God forever.
Thank you for telling us of the specific and detailed care of God for our lives now.
In your name, Jesus, we pray,
Amen