Our paragraph topic is: (Confidence in divine protection) Part 1.
Christ has been telling his disciples about the enemy that they will face in the previous verses. He has told them that a disciple is not above his teacher indicating that they will face disciples of evil and not the teacher. For no disciple is above his teacher. A disciple only strives to be like his teacher. In the case of disciples of evil, they strive to do greater evil than their teacher. So they willingly serve their master seeking to win his favor by doing evil to mankind.
Christ has trained his disciples for their solo journey. He has given them the tools that they will need to do battle with the enemy they will face. He has given them a battle cry to find the one that is worthy. He has strengthened them mentally and spiritually through the training of the mind and the heart in preparation for the coming of the Spirit of the Father who will give them words of wisdom to speak on their behave when they face the governors and kings possessed by the evil one. He now gives them the confidence in their battles by telling them, "Therefore do not be afraid of them."
He tells his disciples this to build up their confidence in the protection that they have from their heavenly father. He wants them to be assured that they have nothing to fear. He wants them to know that they are of greater value than anything on earth and will be protected. Sure they will face demons. Sure they will see all kinds of deformities in the bodies of men. Sure they will come in contact with all kinds of illnesses and diseases. Sure they will hear the lamentations of the bereft in the loss of their loved ones. But he assures them that they are divinely protected above all other things.
This is a clear message for us today. Do not be afraid of them. Do not fear. Do not allow yourself to open the door to anxiety and allow it to enter your heart. For you are protected. You are watched over. You are secure in the hands of your heavenly father if you are a disciple of Christ. For there is the decision that must be made. Either you follow Christ or you follow the evil one, whether you accept it or not. Most would criticize this statement by saying that they do not believe in Christ and the message of the kingdom. But they will not say that they do not believe in the evil one. So one must make a decision. Ignorance and failure to do so does not excuse that the decision has been made for you. For if you do not choose the one then the other is your decision. Therefore, make the decision and know where you stand. Are you afraid of them?
Christ has been telling his disciples about the enemy that they will face in the previous verses. He has told them that a disciple is not above his teacher indicating that they will face disciples of evil and not the teacher. For no disciple is above his teacher. A disciple only strives to be like his teacher. In the case of disciples of evil, they strive to do greater evil than their teacher. So they willingly serve their master seeking to win his favor by doing evil to mankind.
Christ has trained his disciples for their solo journey. He has given them the tools that they will need to do battle with the enemy they will face. He has given them a battle cry to find the one that is worthy. He has strengthened them mentally and spiritually through the training of the mind and the heart in preparation for the coming of the Spirit of the Father who will give them words of wisdom to speak on their behave when they face the governors and kings possessed by the evil one. He now gives them the confidence in their battles by telling them, "Therefore do not be afraid of them."
He tells his disciples this to build up their confidence in the protection that they have from their heavenly father. He wants them to be assured that they have nothing to fear. He wants them to know that they are of greater value than anything on earth and will be protected. Sure they will face demons. Sure they will see all kinds of deformities in the bodies of men. Sure they will come in contact with all kinds of illnesses and diseases. Sure they will hear the lamentations of the bereft in the loss of their loved ones. But he assures them that they are divinely protected above all other things.
This is a clear message for us today. Do not be afraid of them. Do not fear. Do not allow yourself to open the door to anxiety and allow it to enter your heart. For you are protected. You are watched over. You are secure in the hands of your heavenly father if you are a disciple of Christ. For there is the decision that must be made. Either you follow Christ or you follow the evil one, whether you accept it or not. Most would criticize this statement by saying that they do not believe in Christ and the message of the kingdom. But they will not say that they do not believe in the evil one. So one must make a decision. Ignorance and failure to do so does not excuse that the decision has been made for you. For if you do not choose the one then the other is your decision. Therefore, make the decision and know where you stand. Are you afraid of them?
