Who Should We Fear

Let me first begin with the verse I was led to this morning.

“²⁸And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” – Matthew 10:28 (ESV)

In the first part of the verse above, Jesus explains who we are not to fear. Those that can and work to destroy us physically. Those that throw the sticks and the stones. Those that are able to bruise our bodies are not those that we should be fearing. Those around us may be able to take monetary things from us and break down our bodies, but their impact is that which can be healed. We can earn more and heal the body and as such, the fear of those that can and will do that kind of harm are simply a nuisance to the life we have as we do the will of God.

Fear should be directed at those that can kill our soul. We should demonstrate fear toward those that can and will control our final existence. We should be concerned with where our final resting (or damnation) place will be. Our fear should be of the one that provides or allows our ending. Our fear should be of God. And when I speak of fear, I speak of the respect and adoration for Him.

I know that it may be difficult for some to understand when I speak of God providing or allowing for our ending. I know that there are those that speak our questioning our God and how He would allow for our ending to be so painful, and frankly, I have asked those questions myself.

Here is what I have found in my study. God wants nothing but the best for each of us. He wants nothing more than for a relationship with me. He desires for me to love and honor Him. And that is where His granting of my free will comes in. God gives me the ability to make decisions that I see fit for me and my family. I have the control of where we are in life. It is that free will where God’s allowances are found. I am free to decide and as such, God allows for my downfall or for the adversity in my life to be present.

I was given opportunities to accept Christ as my savior and was allowed to choose Him. I did. And now as a follower of Christ I am given opportunities to continue doing His will in my life. Understand that it is and always will be a choice. My obedience is a choice and as such God allows for the consequences of my choice to be present. I am not given a free ticket to all I want and desire. I am accountable for the decisions I make.

Those decisions and the consequences of them are where my fear of the LORD come into play. God grants me the freedom to do His will and I am account able to the actions I take in doing so. Those consequences is where my fear should be. Not in the way I am treated by man, but in the way I am looked upon by God. I do not want to disappoint Him, even though I sin each day.

My duty is to do the will of God and fear Him in all that I do. When my fear is directed at Him, I am more likely to follow the path He has for me and when I follow, I bring glory and honor to Him.

Are you in fear of those in the world that may cause you harm? What if you were to accept Christ and follow Him in all that you do in order to bring glory and honor to Him? Who is it that you fear?