Love is more powerful than fear. Mature love banishes fear (1 John 4:18). Paul came to Corinth and declared the gospel of Christ; some opposed and blasphemed while others believed and were baptized (Acts 18:1-8). “Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city” (Acts 19:9). The Lord encouraged Paul to overcome the fears of preaching there and he stayed eighteen months doing that great work (Acts 18:11). In his later correspondence with Corinth, Paul admitted he had been downhearted when he came to them. He wrote, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Cor. 2:3). Think of all the fearful opposition that Paul overcame to spread the gospel not only in Corinth but throughout the records we have of his mission efforts (cf. Acts 21:11-13). What was his motivation? He later explained, “For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Cor. 5:14, 15). Love is why he labored to persuade men to obey the gospel so that they might be accepted before the Lord when they appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-11).
Love for God and the souls of men motivates Christians to spread the soul-saving message of Jesus Christ to all. Instead of deceiving men with false doctrine for our own gain (Eph. 4:14), we speak the truth in love to others so that they will be saved (Eph. 4:15). Sometimes the more we love people and try to speak the truth to them the less they show love to us. To the Corinthians, who twisted Paul’s sacrifices for them into reasons not to listen to him, the apostle wrote, “And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (2 Cor. 12:15). Sometimes people regard us as enemies because we tell them the truth (Gal. 4:16). Though we do all we can to make the truth as palatable to people as possible, still several will resist it.
When Jesus sent His disciples on the Limited Commission in Matthew 10, He reminded them that people would mistreat them just as they mistreated Him their Lord (vv. 16-25); moreover, He also reminded the disciples not to fear persecution because of their value before God:
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. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt. 10:28-31).
Love not only from God but for God would help them overcome. Sometimes those in our own family are the hardest to talk to about the gospel, but we must love God first. Jesus went on to say:
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. (Matt. 10:34-37.)
As we go out on the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15-16), let us also be reminded of these truths. People need the word of God to save their souls. “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls” (Jas. 1:21). The seed of the kingdom must be spread (Luke 8:11). The devil will take the word out of some hearts (Luke 8:12). Some will receive the word with joy but will fall away in time of temptation (Luke 8:13). Others will allow the cares, riches, and pleasures of this life to choke out the word. Only a fraction of those who hear the word will bring forth fruit. “But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience” (Luke 8:15). Yet, we sow the seed so that salvation is made available.
In the first few chapters of the book of Acts, the church grew exponentially despite opposition from the political powers in and around Jerusalem. The high priest and the council had commanded Peter and the other apostles not to preach in the name of Jesus (Acts 4:18; 5:42); however, the Lord’s command to preach the gospel (Matt. 28:18-20; Mark 16:15) outranked the commands of men (Acts 5:29). Thus, Acts 5:42 reports, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.” In our upcoming community outreach, some will not appreciate that we are trying to spread the gospel to them or bring them back into the fold. Remember the power of love for souls. Whatever may be said to us will pale in comparison to how those in the first century suffered for the Lord’s cause. Let us pray that we may have their boldness to spread the gospel instead of cowering before those who oppose it. “And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word” (Acts 4:29).
–Mark Day