What Jesus Did! 'Fear Him' — Matthew 10:28-31

Thursday, May 8, 2025

[Jesus continued his warning and instructions to the apostles when he sent them out:] "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 10:28-31 NLT

Key Thought

Don't fear people. The only thing they can take from us is our physical life. Instead, God will judge and he can take our eternal life from us. But then God has no desire to condemn. His desire is to redeem and save. Since he knows each sparrow and each hair on our heads, don't you know that he cares for us! So he is not going to let the Evil One snatch us from his love or grace. A persecutor can take our physical lives, but he cannot strip our relationship with God our Father from us! While persecutors and revilers might shake our confidence and hope momentarily, they cannot steal our faith from us. Our faith is in God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, whom he raised from the dead! Since our lives are tied to Jesus, then our future is tied to the resurrected Lord as well!

Today's Prayer

Holy God, give me eyes to see what is important to do and a faithful heart to do it. I want you to be honored in my life. You alone are worthy of my commitment, my service, and my physical life. You alone can preserve my life for eternity. So in you I rest my hope and to you I commit my heart. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Related Scripture Readings

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8 Related Resources by Heartlight

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Illustration

Illustration of Matthew 10:28-31 NLT — Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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