Fearing people is a trap! Escape!
Don’t be afraid of the consequences when you know you’re standing for the truth! Keep an upright vertebral column with love, respect and dignity. God’s truth will shine soon!
It is childish to imagine that people you trust will never fail. Even if your entourage proves to be fateful to you, still, when you least expect it, they might disappoint you – with or without their will. You might have not experienced that but I am sure you’ve seen it.
I am not talking about the "androphobia"- the abnormal and persistent fear of men - in which sufferers experience anxiety even though they realize they may face no real threat.
I want to highlight the fact that fear of what others might think or declare, can become so powerful that some people end up abandoning their values. For instance, people who say today:" this table is white", tomorrow they change their opinion –under the entourage’s pressure – saying "if you all say it’s black, then the table is black!" even if he knows that the table is white. These threats are fear-provoking, after all, you might lose your job or position!
God clearly teaches His people: "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd…" Exodus 23:2
The consequences on one’s life, however, are leading to disaster because such an individual is conducted by circumstances and not by values. When the wind blows, his/her values change as well…
One of the Solomon’s proverbs says: "The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe." Proverbs 29:25
Where would Christianity be today if the first people who saw Christ risen had been paralyzed with fear? They knew they were risking death themselves if they spoke. But they did spread the truth and Stephan was the first martyr for Christ. Wasn’t he afraid to die stoned? Oh, it must have been painful! But it seems that he wasn’t impressed with all the priests in the synagogue and it is understandable that God Himself helped him: while being stoned he saw Heaven opened, God and His Son Jesus were waiting for Stephan; what's more, he had the power to ask God to forgive those who stoned him! What a death! How much dignity!
That is the fear we as Christians, shouldn’t have; we shouldn’t fear people when we know God is on our side or rather we are on God’s side. When we know that we speak the truth, why compromise with a lie? Isn’t God whom we are all going to face one day? Even if a lie seems the way out in a certain situation, don’t forget that God expects you to stand for the truth, regardless of the consequences.
"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10
As you can notice in this verse, the devil is behind the scenes when compromise knocks at the door! Just ask Jesus to answer the door for you and you’ll see the previously prepared way out that temptation.
Of course, not all had the courage to admit that they believed in Jesus :"Nevertheless even from among the Rulers many believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not avow their belief, for fear they should be shut out from the synagogue." John 12:42
Regrettable; may God help and strengthen us because the cowards do not have a "pink future", on the contrary: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8
Of course, Bible talks about "cowards" when it comes to the fear of suffering for Christ, not a coward because you are afraid to practice bungee jumping!
Never be afraid to suffer for Christ! He has already overcome the world and He will give you enough strength when you need it, don’t worry!
The martyrs were only humans like us, but God’s power operated in them so that they were not afraid to die, knowing that the crown of life awaits them!
"See, God is my salvation; I will have faith in the Lord, without fear: for the Lord Jah is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2
"The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life." Proverbs 22:4
May God help us have a healthy spiritual vertebral column and keep it vertical, always standing for the truth, regardless of other’s opinions.
I am not talking about the "androphobia"- the abnormal and persistent fear of men - in which sufferers experience anxiety even though they realize they may face no real threat.
I want to highlight the fact that fear of what others might think or declare, can become so powerful that some people end up abandoning their values. For instance, people who say today:" this table is white", tomorrow they change their opinion –under the entourage’s pressure – saying "if you all say it’s black, then the table is black!" even if he knows that the table is white. These threats are fear-provoking, after all, you might lose your job or position!
God clearly teaches His people: "Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong. When you give testimony in a lawsuit, do not pervert justice by siding with the crowd…" Exodus 23:2
The consequences on one’s life, however, are leading to disaster because such an individual is conducted by circumstances and not by values. When the wind blows, his/her values change as well…
One of the Solomon’s proverbs says: "The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe." Proverbs 29:25
Where would Christianity be today if the first people who saw Christ risen had been paralyzed with fear? They knew they were risking death themselves if they spoke. But they did spread the truth and Stephan was the first martyr for Christ. Wasn’t he afraid to die stoned? Oh, it must have been painful! But it seems that he wasn’t impressed with all the priests in the synagogue and it is understandable that God Himself helped him: while being stoned he saw Heaven opened, God and His Son Jesus were waiting for Stephan; what's more, he had the power to ask God to forgive those who stoned him! What a death! How much dignity!
That is the fear we as Christians, shouldn’t have; we shouldn’t fear people when we know God is on our side or rather we are on God’s side. When we know that we speak the truth, why compromise with a lie? Isn’t God whom we are all going to face one day? Even if a lie seems the way out in a certain situation, don’t forget that God expects you to stand for the truth, regardless of the consequences.
"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life." Revelation 2:10
As you can notice in this verse, the devil is behind the scenes when compromise knocks at the door! Just ask Jesus to answer the door for you and you’ll see the previously prepared way out that temptation.
Of course, not all had the courage to admit that they believed in Jesus :"Nevertheless even from among the Rulers many believed in Him. But because of the Pharisees they did not avow their belief, for fear they should be shut out from the synagogue." John 12:42
Regrettable; may God help and strengthen us because the cowards do not have a "pink future", on the contrary: "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8
Of course, Bible talks about "cowards" when it comes to the fear of suffering for Christ, not a coward because you are afraid to practice bungee jumping!
Never be afraid to suffer for Christ! He has already overcome the world and He will give you enough strength when you need it, don’t worry!
The martyrs were only humans like us, but God’s power operated in them so that they were not afraid to die, knowing that the crown of life awaits them!
"See, God is my salvation; I will have faith in the Lord, without fear: for the Lord Jah is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation." Isaiah 12:2
"The result of humility and the fear of Yahweh is wealth, honor, and life." Proverbs 22:4
May God help us have a healthy spiritual vertebral column and keep it vertical, always standing for the truth, regardless of other’s opinions.
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