He also knows that truly witnessing to the gospel will entail suffering for the messengers who bring the good news. And the temptation will be great to avoid the work to which we are called, out of fear. Thus, he says: “Anyone who is still afraid of people is not afraid of God. Anyone who fears God is no longer afraid of people. Daily reminders of this statement are valuable for preachers of the gospel” (196). And, finally, Bonhoeffer reminds his readers that those who toil in the work of the gospel must trust that such labor will produce fruit, as promised by Jesus.
