Lead Courageously Without Fear or Hatred
Daily Scripture
Matthew 10:25-33
25 It’s enough for disciples to be like their teacher and slaves like their master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, it’s certain that they will call the members of his household by even worse names.
26 “Therefore, don’t be afraid of those people because nothing is hidden that won’t be revealed, and nothing secret that won’t be brought out into the open. 27 What I say to you in the darkness, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, announce from the rooftops. 28 Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell. 29 Aren’t two sparrows sold for a small coin? But not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father knowing about it already. 30 Even the hairs of your head are all counted. 31 Don’t be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.
32 “Therefore, everyone who acknowledges me before people, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven. 33 But everyone who denies me before people, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.
Daily Reflection & Prayer
What does it take to “lead courageously”? A clear sense of a central Bible message is vital. “Which command is repeated most often in the Bible? You might imagine it’s something stern: Behave yourself! Smarten up! Say your prayers! Worship God more wholeheartedly! Give more money away! You’d be wrong. It’s the command we find in verses 26, 28 and 31: Don’t be afraid.” * Jesus modeled and taught his followers the importance of leaving behind the human tendency to be afraid.
- A common reaction to fear is to try to threaten the source of the threat. That was not Jesus’ way —it just multiplies fear. “The demonic powers… greedy for the soul of God’s people are using their very desire for justice and vengeance as bait. The people of light are never more at risk than when they are lured into fighting the darkness with more darkness.” ** This happens when Christians meet threats with their own fear tactics. How can you defeat fear in a Romans 12:21 way?
- There is another perilous misunderstanding of verse 28 in today’s reading. “Some people think that when Jesus urges us to fear the one who can destroy body and soul in hell, he is referring to God himself. But the point here is the opposite. God is the one we do not have to fear. Indeed, he is the one we can trust with our lives, our souls, our bodies, everything.” *** Fear and hatred destroy; God gives life and love. How must that shape your efforts to “lead courageously”?
Prayer
Loving Lord, in whatever ways I influence others, I want to always lead courageously in ways that draw others to your eternal kingdom of light and grace. Please guide me. Amen.
GPS Insights
Lydia Kim
Lydia Kim, who serves as a pastor of Connection and Care at Resurrection Leawood, wrote today's Insights. An avid believer that growing in faith pairs well with fellowship and food, she is always ready for recommendations on local restaurants and coffee shops.
© 2025 Resurrection: A United Methodist Church. All Rights Reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from The Common English Bible ©2011. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
References
* Wright, N. T., Matthew for Everyone, Part 1: Chapters 1-15 (The New Testament for Everyone) (p. 118). Westminster John Knox Press. Kindle Edition.
** Ibid., p. 119. God does not defeat evil “with more darkness”: “The triumph of God in Christ is not the triumph of brute force, as if to assert a cosmic principle of ‘might is right.’ It is a triumph of grace in which divine love goes forth in sacrifice.” –from article “Triumph” in in Leland Ryken, James C. Wilhoit and Tremper Longman III, general editors, Dictionary of Biblical Imagery. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1998, p. 899.
*** Ibid., p. 120.
