Guard Your Heart

    Fear Not

    Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, fear the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.

    Matthew 10:28-31

    Jesus sent the twelve out as sheep among wolves and told them what not to fear: those who can kill the body but cannot touch the soul. Sparrows and numbered hairs carry the other half of the argument.

    Jesus does not say there is nothing to fear. He resizes our fears: people can only reach the body, and the God who catalogs sparrows and counts hairs has you entirely held. Right fear of God is the end of every wrong fear of man.

    Name the person or opinion whose disapproval currently governs your obedience. Then do the right thing they might not like, as a direct act of trusting the Father who counts your hairs.