The fear of man brings a snare, But he who trusts in the LORD will be exalted. Proverbs 29:25
Boy, that says it! During my time as a Christian I don't know if there is another lesson that has had such a huge impact on how I walk with God. It's a simple lesson really, but one that took some time to learn. The lesson is this, if I fear man I cannot follow God. I cannot simply obey what I see in scripture if I am always worried about what the brother next to me thinks or what everyone else in the church may be doing.
When I speak of the fear of man, that would include those outside the church, but I think more so includes those within the church. It was the religious leaders who killed Jesus and persecuted the church afterward. Most of the pressure I have experienced to go against my convictions has come from those within the church, even leaders. It is from these experiences that I came to learn that if I fear them I am a goner.
You obey who you fear. You are the slave to whom you fear. If I don't obey what God says because of a brother, guess whose slave I am. Not God's. I want to be God's slave. He is gentle and kind, even when I ere. His ways bring joy and peace, and the fear of Him lets me sleep at night.
The fear of man is an oppressive slavery that drives guilt, despair and shame into the innermost places, because in my conscience I know that when I fear man I have sinned against Him who loves me. The sooner you unload the fear of man from your shoulders the freer and happier you will be because then you will be able to simply abide with God unfettered by man's opinions. Here are a couple passages to consider.
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
"He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me." Matthew 10:37
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