*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*
*REVERENT FEAR IN SERVICE.(2)*
*Scripture Treasure.*
Matthew 10:28 *And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.*
*Insight and Highlight.*
The fear of man could affect where a soul will spend his/her eternal life.
*Scripture Commentaries.*
Jesus expresses the dreadful power of man to harm and kill one another bodily.
The fear of man is dreadful, and it could impact the soul's eternal destination.
For a better understanding, let us understand human personhood.
Three components exist in every human. Out of the three components that form the human personhood, body, soul, and spirit, only the body is destructible.
The body, though destructible, will be transformed on the day of resurrection, 1 Cor 15: 51-54.
At a person's death, the spirit immediately goes back to God, who gave it Eccl 12:7.
The soul is indestructible and survives death, either to live in heaven or in hell.
When the body experiences its transformation on the day of resurrection, the whole personhood is totally redeemed for those who died in Christ.
It is the soul that results from the union of the spirit and body, and these three as one stand judgment before God.
So in Matt 10:28, Jesus was saying two things.
First is that, because the soul and the human spirit are indestructible, they will continue to live when the person dies physically because they are beyond the ability of any man to destroy.
So Jesus was saying that the one who has the power to destroy the soul should be feared, and this is God.
We ought not fear man who can not destroy the soul (and spirit) that God has made indestructible.
This tells us that there is a limit to what people whom we unnecessarily fear can do to us. They could kill the body but can not kill the soul.
Second is that in addition to Jesus making us know that only He can destroy the soul, the negative impact on a soul while he/she lived will determine where the soul ends, either heaven or hell.
If we are not careful of people whom we unnecessarily fear, though they can not kill the soul, they may influence our minds, emotions, and wills against God while the soul was living.
A soul influenced negatively or who feared man more than God may be
destroyed by God *'.....in hell'.* (Matt 10:28).
In other words, if this remains unchanged to the end of a soul's life, the fear of man the soul had could also affect where the soul will spend his/her eternal life.
Beware of fear of man, *'... because fear hath torment.'*, 1 John 4:18.
Guard your soul, now, in the fear of God.
*Remorse corner.*
Serve God in reverent fear to God's laid down authority. He who honors man in the fear of God has also honored God.
*Call to Word action.*
Luke 12:5 *But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.*
*The Christian clarion duty.*
Beware of fear of man.
*Prayer.*
Lord, do not let me destroy my soul by fearing man over God, in Jesus name.
Good morning all, and have a blessed day.
God bless you.
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