Know: Matthew 10:28 “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Consider: Yelling. It’s a common occurrence in the military, but people “yell” at us constantly. You’ve heard them just like I have. They say things like, “You don’t belong here.” “I’ll make sure you don’t make it.” “I could make your life miserable.” “I might not be able to help your children.” “Your career is over.” They may not be in our faces and their voices may not be raised, but they can still put us face-to-face with fear. People can impact our lives in a very physical way, and we can easily succumb to fear. God has a different plan. Fear “of those who kill the body” is not part of it.
Where our fear lies changes everything. In our Christian walk we can fear the things that can kill the body or we can fear the One. The two fears are so very different, though. The first one, the fear of man, keeps us frozen and ineffective. It keeps us from doing the things He has commanded and called us to do. The second fear, the fear of the Lord, changes everything. God’s way is so much better. We must face down fear, decide on Lordship, and trust His love for us. Fear of the Lord gives us freedom and hope that we could never imagine or experience on our own.
Real-life fear can overwhelm our hearts, and sometimes it comes in the form of real-live people. God challenges us to continue on, trusting in His love and care for us, and leave our fear of others behind. In that moment, we find freedom and hope in the faith of the One.
Key Concept: [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][tweetthis]Face fear, decide on Lordship, and trust His love for you! [/tweetthis]
This Week’s Faith-Over-Fear Challenge: Identify situations in which you are tempted to “fear man.” Ask God now to help you grow stronger in these areas.
Questions for Discussing & Journaling:
- Have you ever been to a military school? What are your memories of those times – good and bad? If you were to go, what might be some of your biggest challenges?
- Why does the Bible tell us to “be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”?
- How does your heart change when your fear is in the right place?
- In your journal, write down those you fear. Some of these people may not have specific names. They may just hold positions or places in your world. It’s just you and the Lord, so share freely and then spend some time praying over each one.
Continue: Memory Verse & Daily Homework
Day 1: Memory Verse
Memorize Matthew 10:28. Write down the verse in your journal then copy it onto a sticky note or card to put up where you will see it frequently throughout the day.
Day 2: Destroying Fear
Continue memorizing Matthew 10:28. Read 1 Peter 3:13-15a. The issue of fear is also an issue of Lordship. Who/what truly reigns in your heart? Spend some time in prayer today talking to God about those you fear. They can come in all shapes and sizes, many of them having the ability to affect your circumstances and life in a very physical way. Write a prayer in your journal asking God to destroy all other fears.
Day 3: Deciding on Lordship
Read 1 Peter 3:13-15a again. The last part of those verses says, “do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” Just like at our military schools, pressing on to accomplish what we set out to do, we have to step past our fear and into faith. Have you heard the term “Lordship” before…identifying who you may subtly be serving and instead setting apart Christ as Lord? This is the key to leaving our fears behind. Note some ways that you could more boldly step out into faith in certain areas of your life, asking God to give you the courage to do so. Look intentionally today for opportunities to put those notes into action.
Day 4: Trusting
Read Luke 12:4-7. These verses are very similar to our key verse this week, but the end is a little different. We are told not to be afraid of those who kill the body, but of the one who, after killing the body, has the power to throw you into hell. Oh, but what comes next is awesome! He shows us how valuable and special we are to that One. Remembering this helps us to step away from the fear of others. Today, make a list of what God has done in your life and how He has cared for you. This list could go on for quite a while if you incorporated all of life, so try to be more specific and remember ways He has cared for you in the past few weeks. Spend time in prayer today thanking Him for His love and care.
Day 5: Fear Negated by Love
Read Luke 12:4-7 again. The last part of the verses say, “Don’t be afraid; you are worth far more than sparrows.” Fear can take over our hearts in the easiest of ways–when our jobs or promotions seem to be in the hands of not-so-friendly folks, when those we thought were friends can say hurtful things to us and to others, when we face evil in the hearts of people we meet, or when we see impacts of evil in the acts of others in our world. Fear, real fear. But God gives us a way to overcome such fear. There is One in control of this world, even in the face of evil. That One values us more than we will ever know. Today, thank God for ways He has cared for you and protected you even when you had no idea. Write a prayer of thanksgiving to Him.
Creative Component: Quick Dip Recipe
To bring back the memories of those amazing creations from ground beef they used to serve at the Chow Hall. Feel free to serve with Fritos, Tortilla chips, or whatever else you want to dip in it!
Ingredients:
1 lb ground beef
2 can Campbell’s Cheddar Cheese Soup
1 can Campbell’s Nacho Cheese Soup
Directions:
Brown ground beef and drain. Mix in soup. Heat and serve. If you would like it spicier change it to two cans of Nacho Cheese Soup and one can on Cheddar Cheese Soup.
Submitted by Kori Yates
Chime in and comment below: Who are you tempted to fear – neighbors, relatives, co-workers, those in authority? How does fearing God help you overcome fear of man?
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