Which Fear Will We Choose?

Scripture

4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. 6 “What is the price of five sparrows—two copper coins ? Yet God does not forget a single one of them. 7And 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. Luke 12:4-7

Observation

This whole chapter is red with the words of Jesus. I’m leaning in to truly understand what Jesus is warning His disciples about. At first glance it comes off confusing and contradictory. Wait, so I’m not supposed to fear people’s response, rejection, and persecution to my witness, right? That sounds bad, but nothing in comparison to being killed and thrown into hell by God. So, if I’m choosing who I should fear more then, yeah, temporary pain versus eternal damnation means I’m definitely going to fear God more. Then, Jesus follows that quite terrifying scenario up with “don’t be afraid” as He speaks to my value and worth in His sight. What happened here? Did Jesus see the look of terror on the faces of His disciples and try to soften the approach? Not at all. He’s showing them and us how to choose the right fear! Yes, Jesus is using the same Greek word for fear but its meaning is determined by its context. Phobeisthe (where we get our English word phobia or “fear of”) has a wide range: from sheer terror to deep reverence. So when Jesus says “fear not” and “fear God” almost back-to-back, He’s using the same verb but applying it to different objects of fear. Jesus’ followers would soon face threats from Jewish leaders, Roman officials, and mobs. Martyrdom was a real possibility and reality for most. For them, the temptation would be to fear man (persecution, imprisonment, death) and to fear lack. The choice to fear God is a choice to trust and revere God who holds both our eternal destiny and our daily provision. So, it’s not a contradiction, it’s a progression of daily choosing the right fear, a fear of God.

Application

John Bevere once wrote, “The fear of the Lord is not to be afraid of God—it’s to be afraid to be away from Him”. Choosing my fear is choosing my future. It’s a future that is either with God or without Him. It’s Monday morning and I woke up to the same fearful realties everyone else did. A looming government shut down, another senseless and tragic shooting at a church, conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe not going away any time soon name just a few. The fears that hit even harder, of course, are the ones that hit closer to home. It’s actually here at home that God is giving me clarity. God gave my son Jaxon a dream and it couldn’t more timely. He said he saw this bright light and felt this heavy presence of God’s glory and literally couldn’t stand up. He found himself face down on the ground in the presence of God. Jaxon said he didn’t fear like he was going to be crushed by the weight, but rather a warm fear of awe and reverence as the presence of God surrounded him. He knew he was safe because He was surrounded, not by threats, but by a God who loved him. WOW! That’s exactly what Jesus is communicating here in Luke 12. Jesus reorients my perspective: Don’t let earthly threats control you; let God’s eternal authority and fatherly care define your courage. . When I choose to fear God the fear of man and the fear of lack no longer have a hold on me. The closer I get to seeking Jesus first in Holy awe the more confidence I have in God’s Fatherly care the easier it becomes to release wrong fear (anxiety, worry). “31Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need.32 “So don’t be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom.” (Luke 12:31-32) John Bevere also wrote, “Our love for God is limited by a lack of holy fear. Our hearts are to bear the light and warmth of both flames.”

Prayer

Heavenly Father, You are both Holy and Happy and I choose to fear You and You alone. I repent for the places where I have chosen the fear of man (will they like me) and the fear of lack (will I have enough) over the fear of You (My God loves me and is more than enough). The headlines push me towards panic, but Your Words of Life push me towards a pursuit of You like never before. I need Your wisdom for all the situations demanding my attention and this is the place to start, bowing at Your feet, submitting Your lead, fearing You above all else. “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)