Scripture:  Matthew 10:26-33

26 Then do not be afraid of them. For nothing is covered up that will not be brought out into the light. There is nothing hid that will not be made known. 27 You tell in the light what I tell you in the dark. You must speak with a loud voice from the roofs of houses what you have heard. 28 Do not be afraid of them who kill the body. They are not able to kill the soul. But fear Him Who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two small birds sold for a very small piece of money? And yet not one of the birds falls to the earth without your Father knowing it. 30 God knows how many hairs you have on your head. 31 So do not be afraid. You are more important than many small birds.

 32 "Whoever makes Me known in front of men, I will make him known to My Father in heaven. 33 But whoever does not make Me known in front of men and acts as if he does not know Me, I will not make him known to My Father in heaven.

Meditation: What does fear have to do with the kingdom of God? Fear is a powerful force. It can lead us to panic and flight or it can spur us to faith and action. A reverent fear of God is the antidote to the fear of losing one's life. "I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. O fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! Come, O sons, listen to me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord" (Psalm 34:4,9,11). What is godly fear? It is reverence for the One who made us in love and who sustains us in mercy and kindness. The greatest injury or loss which we can experience is not physical but spiritual – the loss of one's whole being to the power of hell. A healthy fear of God leads to spiritual maturity, wisdom, and right judgment, and it frees us from the tyranny of sinful pride, cowardice – especially in the face of evil, and spiritual deception. If you trust in God's help and mercy and and obey his word, then your life will be transformed by God's grace and power.

When Jesus proclaimed the gospel - the good news of God's kingdom - he met opposition from those who refused to believe that he was sent from the Father in heaven. Jesus told his disciples that they could expect the same treatment. There is both a warning and a privilege in Jesus' statement. Just as Jesus had to carry his cross, so the disciples must carry their cross and not try to evade it. To suffer for the faith is to share in the work of Christ. As one Christian hymn states: Lift high the Cross of Christ! Tread where his feet have trod. The Holy Spirit gives us power and grace to live as disciples of Jesus Christ. Do you trust in God’s grace to carry your cross for Jesus’ sake?

Prayer: "Lord Jesus, it is my joy and privilege to be your disciple. Give me strength and courage to bear any hardship and suffering which may come my way in your service. May I witness to others the joy of the gospel."

Psalm 69:8-10,14,17,33-35

8 I have become a stranger to my brothers, a stranger to my mother's sons.
 9 For the strong desire for Your house has burned me up. And the bad things said about You have fallen on me.
 10 When I cried and went without food, I was put to shame.

14 Take me out of the mud and do not let me go down in it. Take me away from those who hate me and from the deep waters.

17 Do not hide Your face from Your servant, for I am in trouble. Hurry to answer me.

33 For the Lord hears those who are in need, and does not hate His people in prison.

 34 Let heaven and earth and the seas and all the things that move in them give thanks to Him.
 35 For God will save Zion and build the cities of Judah. Then His people may live there and have it for their own.