Fear but don't fear

Regularly in the Bible there's this awkward balance between different meanings of the word "fear" one meaning to respect and honor and the other one meaning to be afraid of something, like what we see the meaning of fear today. This comes out in Luke 12 when we look at a warning Jesus gives us.

Jesus says:
“I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more. 5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him. 6 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Luke 12:4-7 NIV)
Jesus has been talking about the Pharisees and how they are hypocrites, and as such this continues to be an attack on the Jewish rulers, indeed it's something that applies to Jesus as well, after all he will be killed by them, and it's a direct message to the apostles. Jesus tells them to not be afraid of people who can kill the body, but can't do anything after that but to fear the one who can send us into hell. Fear related to the first group is an actual fear, Jesus didn't want people to disrespect the authorities but rather to not be afraid of them, but then he takes advantage of the double meaning and speaks about fearing God. We're not supposed to live in fear of some God who is going to send us all to hell, but rather we need to honor and respect God, who loves us and cares for us. That's where the rest of Luke 12 is mainly concerned and is where this passage wraps up, even Sparrows are cared for by God, surely you are worth more than sparrows, he longs to save you from that place.

What about for us? Well we're probably not being faced with a choice between following God or death and so this makes running from god an especially crazy decision. For us the worst persecution probably gets is exclusion or name calling, now while that can be painful it's not much on the scale of what Jesus' audience would suffer for following him, Jesus wants us to endure any suffering and continue to trust ('fear') God.