Daily Devotions
Luke
Luke 12:4-12 "OVERCOMING THE CRIPPLING POWER OF FEAR"
Day 158 – Luke 12
Text: Luke 12:4-12
OVERCOMING THE CRIPPLING POWER OF FEAR
What was the reason behind Jesus exposing the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and Scribes? Jesus knew that many were afraid of the religious leaders. After all, they were the ones who…
1. Controlled the synagogues.
2. Controlled the Temple .
3. Controlled theological thought.
4. Affected society in very real and deadly ways. They could cause people to become ostracized in society.
5. Also affected the legal system. Though Roman law was supposed to reign, the Jews had their own courts of law that had powers to mete out severe penalties. Only with reference to capital punishment did the Jews have to defer to Roman law.
The fear of the multitudes, and possible the Disciples of Jesus, was thus very real and palpable. Jesus had to teach His listeners how they must overcome the crippling power of fear. He had to not only teach how they could overcome fear, He must also demonstrate this in His life.
“MY FRIENDS, DO NOT BE AFRAID OF THOSE WHO KILL THE BODY…” Luke 12:4
What was it that the people feared? The greatest fear was that of being killed! Were the religious authorities capable of killing people in the name of their religion? The bald-faced truth was “YES!”
Jesus urged His listeners to fight fear with sound reasoning – with TRUTH! What more can they do than to kill the body, “and after that have no more that they can do” (Luke 12:4)?
If only people did not fear the destruction of the body! They would have nothing to fear if they were not afraid to die!
FIGHTING FEAR WITH FEAR
The Lord Jesus brought up a most interesting point here. He knew that “fear” was most difficult to battle. The best way to fight “fear” was with another kind of “fear”. Thus He said,
“But I will show you whom you should fear:
Fear Him who, after He has killed,
Has power to cast into hell;
Yes, I say to you, Fear Him! “
Luke 12:5
The “fear of the Lord” is a strong OT principle. Jesus now taught this to His Disciples. What is this fear of the Lord? How could “fear” fight “fear”? How do we actually practise this principle in life?
“THE FEAR OF THE LORD”
The “fear of the Lord” is the most natural thing that a human being should have when he comes into the presence of God. Jesus highlights only one aspect of the “fear of the Lord”.
1. The “fear of the Lord” is the most natural reaction or response that a sinful human being must have in his heart as he stands before God.
2. The very nature of God inspires this response from man.
3. The greatness of God, the holiness of the Lord, the majesty and power that belong to God should cause the individual to tremble before Him
When Jesus sought to teach the “fear of the Lord” He had to address a prevalent problem that existed. He had to deal with the fear of man.
THE FEAR OF MAN
The “fear of man” is an unnatural, but learned response. Why should one human being fear another? They are essentially the same. They breathe the same air. They eat, life and die as all human beings do.
The “fear of man” is something people teach. Men teach others to fear them. They use every means available to cause others to fear them.
1. Threats are used.
2. The fear of death is one of the most powerful threats devised. Many fear death. They would do anything to prevent death. Thus the threat of death is so real that many are cowed into total submission.
The acquired “fear of man” can be so strong that it replaces the natural “fear of God”. This is possible because of the weakness of man.
REINSTATING THE FEAR OF THE LORD TO COMBAT THE FEAR OF MAN
The Lord Jesus was correct in His approach. The best way to overcome the fear of man, and the fear of death is to have the fear of the Lord properly instilled in the heart. How should we regard God in our life?
Jesus had to teach the very basics! One of the most basic lessons was how we should fear God and not man! The heart must unlearn its fear of man. The heart must instead learn what it means to fear the Lord! Only when the fear of the Lord has been properly installed in the heart, can a person be free from the fear of man!
Why should we not fear the Lord? If we fear man who can destroy the body, then we should also fear God, for He too can end the life of an individual. Why should we fear the former and not the latter?
If we fear the destruction of the body, we should fear even more the destruction of the soul! God can destroy both body and soul! God has the power to cast a soul into hell! Why do we not then learn to fear God?
We need to learn afresh what it means to fear the Lord! Properly understood and cultivated as a principle of truth in our life, the fear of the Lord will help us never to fear man! Once freed from the fear of man, we would find a courage that will enable us to stand for the truth. People may kill the body, but God can kill the body and the soul! Let us learn a basic lesson. Let us reinstate the fear of the Lord in our soul.