JESUS CARES

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Don't be afraid of those who want to kill you. They

can only kill your body; they cannot touch your soul.

Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body

                                     in hell.                           Matthew 10:28

I can't help but want to say in response, "They can only kill my body? And this should be a relief to me?"

Jesus' words reveal that there is something far more important to him than protecting us from physical harm. His agenda is Kindgom advancement. His cause may cost us our lives, and evidently he is okay with that.

When I say he is okay with that, I don't mean he is passive about it or applauds it. He cares deeply about what happens to us, and we need to hear him say that, too, in the very next verse:

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 10:29-31

Do you hear Jesus speaking to you in this, making your hear how valuable you are to him, how carefully and lovingly he knows you? We can never think he is uncaring about the difficulties we face as we live in this world for him.

(These are not my words. They are from the excellent book, Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow by Nancy Guthrie.)