Too often we let fear over minor matters dictate your response to your circumstances without much thought.
We too easily submit to emotion in the moment, and forget about the future. But if we take time to think things though we can make better choices. But the problem is we don’t often give ourselves enough time to reflect on the problem in light of Biblical truths to see how minor our current problems are in light of greater realities.
I saw the words of Yeshua, “Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body but can’t kill the soul. Instead, be afraid of the one who can destroy both body and soul in hell." Matthew 10:28. To me this was a priority check, like when the Jewish teacher Peter said "...we must obey God rather than men." Acts 5:29 and the Jewish prophet John said, "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars--they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death." Revelation 21:8
Now we are not to be motivated by fear. Bible says, “There is no fear in love. On the contrary, love that has achieved its goal gets rid of fear, because fear has to do with punishment; the person who keeps fearing has not been brought to maturity in regard to love.” 1 John 4:18. So me God was basically saying look, if you are going to fear you should fear or respect my judgment over that of mere humans. Yeshua said “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
So don't be a weak believer that does not take God seriously. If you are a people pleaser and fear disappointing others, if you really believe the Bible displeasing God and the heavenly host should be your biggest concern. I didn't think one should be good for the sake of avoiding hell out of fear, although hell is not good, but living for God is less intimidating when you look at the big picture and properly prioritize your life. Despite my many words I can be timid and easily get tempted to shy away from evangelism out of fear of displeasing someone but to me it is important to remember when Yeshua comes public speaking, dying, or whatever you might be scared of doing for God right now isn't going to be your biggest concern later. It is the eternal things that matter most. You shouldn’t be scared but so if you are going to be scared of something, be scared of displeasing God more than people.
Picture originally found here
