Saturday 19 July, 2014

26 “So don’t be afraid of your enemies. Everything that is secret will be brought out into the open. Everything that is hidden will be uncovered. 27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight. What is whispered in your ear, shout from the rooftops. 28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 “Aren’t two sparrows sold for only a penny? But not one of them falls to the ground without your Father knowing it. 30 He even counts every hair on your head! 31 So don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows. 32 “What about someone who says in front of others that he knows me? I will also say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I know him. 33 But what about someone who says in front of others that he doesn’t know me? I will say in front of my Father who is in heaven that I don’t know him. 34 “Do not think that I came to bring peace to the earth. I didn’t come to bring peace. I came to bring a sword. 35 I have come to turn “‘sons against their fathers. Daughters will refuse to obey their mothers. Daughters-in-law will be against their mothers-in-law.

There are many voices that wage war for influence over my life. The acclaim of peers, the satisfaction of parents, the approval of superiors. There are sometimes those who try to lord it over me – a boss, a bully, a poisonous relationship. All these voices try to influence me, try to get my attention and direct my life.
Yet I see here that Jesus has the last word, more than that, Jesus has the ever-lasting word. What he says echoes throughout all eternity. For all the voices I could follow, only one will ring out for all eternity, only one can either accept me or deny me before the one and only God. Jesus promises his allegiance to me if only I will claim him as my King and my Saviour.

When all of life is narrowed down to a fine point only Jesus remains. He is first. All other relationships and concerns bow down to Jesus first. For his is the only voice that matters for all eternity.

Lord, your words are sometimes drowned out by the words of others. This scripture inspires me to carve out time in the silence to hear and read the Words of Life, to be focused on the one whose words last for eternity. Lord I do not need to fear, for you are most powerful and you are most caring towards me!

 

Written by Andrew Mellor