Read: Matthew 10:26-31 NRSV
‘So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him 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 unperceived by 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.
Fear thrives in a world out of tune with its Creator. Illness, violence, injustice, and death are all signs of the disharmony introduced by sin. And in such a world, fear can seem like the only logical response.
But Jesus speaks directly into that fear: “Do not be afraid.”
Not because evil doesn’t exist. Not because the threats aren’t real. But because there’s a deeper reality—a kingdom where the soul and body will be raised, whole and eternal, in the presence of God.
In this passage, Jesus acknowledges the dangers His followers might face. Persecution, slander, even death. Yet He tells them to fear not. Why? Because the worst the world can do—kill the body—is not the end of the story. The God who counts every sparrow and numbers every hair on your head is also the God who will one day raise your body from the dust and restore it in glory.
Fear arises from a world where sin still lingers, but Christ has entered this brokenness not just to comfort us in it, but to reorder it, to redeem it, and to resurrect it. The resurrection isn’t just a spiritual idea—it’s a physical promise. Your body, fragile and mortal now, is destined for renewal. Not even death has the final word.
So take courage. Walk in the light. Speak truth from the housetops. You are known, seen, and loved by the God who has already overcome the world.
Pray: Lord, thank You for the promise that I am known and valued by You. Help me to live without fear, trusting that my life is in Your hands—not just now, but forever. Give me courage to proclaim Your truth, and hope to endure whatever comes, knowing that even death will give way to resurrection.
