MATTHEW 10:26–28
“Fear them not therefore… What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light… And fear not them…”
SPEAK UP
Notice what surrounds Jesus’ command to speak:
“Fear them not…”
“Preach ye upon the housetops.”
“Fear not…”
Fear.
Speak.
Fear.
Jesus knew something could threaten the disciples’ voices. The problem isn’t always that we have nothing to say. Sometimes fear has convinced us not to say it.
What will they think?
What if they reject me?
What if I look too radical?
What if they remember my past?
But Jesus sends His disciples to the rooftop—a place where the person speaking could be seen. The rooftop didn’t hide the witness. It exposed the witness.
Jesus wasn’t simply telling them to get louder. He was calling them to be unashamed of being publicly identified with Him. Maybe you don’t need another testimony. Maybe you need the courage to tell the one you already have.
Don’t let fear keep silent what Jesus has given you to say.
SPEAK UP.
REFLECT
What has fear caused me to leave unspoken?
Whose opinion has had too much influence over my willingness to talk about Jesus?
TODAY’S STEP
Choose one person today and tell them something Jesus has done in your life.
It doesn’t have to be long.
Just make sure what Jesus has done doesn’t remain unspoken.
PRAYER
Jesus, restore the courage that fear has tried to take from me. Free me from being controlled by people’s opinions, rejection, or reminders of my past. Give me boldness to be publicly identified with You and courage to speak about what You have done. Amen.
SUNDAY WORD
FEAR WANTS YOUR TESTIMONY TO REMAIN PRIVATE.
SPEAK UP!
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