Fear of Man - Fear of God? John 7:11-13


Text:  And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him (God) which is able to destroy both soul and body in Hell.
Matthew 10:28.

          The fear of man bringeth a snare; but whoso putteth his/her trust in the Lord shall be SAFE.
Proverbs 29:25.

Good morning, God-fearing Christian!  Fearing the Almighty Lord God Jehovah and holding Him in awesome reverence - you fear absolutely nothing else.  Thus you cry out with the God-fearing Psalmist:

The Lord is my light and my Salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.  Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear…”      (Psalm 27:1-3)

God-fearing men and women can be fearless in the face of all else!

In our previous Bible Lesson from the Gospel of John, we were taught how the Lord Jesus chose His timing to go up to the Feast of Tabernacles in Judaea; and refused to go up to that public feast promoting Himself by miraculous works, or with loud fanfare to publicize His arrival. 

Christ used His wise discernment, and His knowledge that the Jews sought to kill, Him to inform Him on how he should attend the feast.  We Christians do well to exercise a similar sharp discernment in this latter-day age of anti-Christian oppositions.

Behold, I (Christ Jesus) send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves; be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.  (Matthew 10:16)

Being God-fearing should not encourage us to be humanly foolhardy!

Todays selected Bible reading above informs us that, “…the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, Where is He?’” (V.11)

Unpopular as Christ is in todays sinful world, the unsatisfied world still seek Him out.  Unpopular as we Christian believers are in this sin-sick world, sinners will still seek us out, and watch us to see how we live our lives in public.  We are, in Christ Jesus, ‘…a peculiar people…’ indeed.

But ye (born again, God-fearing, Christians) are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.  (1 Peter 2:9)

We then learn from our Bible reading that, “…there was much murmuring among the people concerning Him (Christ Jesus): for some said, He is a good man; others said, Nay; but he deceiveth the people.’” (V.12)

Has anything really changed that much today, God-fearing Christian?  Are you and I not treated in a similar manner by those around us in the world; those who are still in their sins and secretly hungering in their hearts for soul-Salvation?

Those that might say we are good are wrong in their assessment of us, for the Scriptures teach clearly that - outside of Christ Jesus - ‘…there is none good, no not one!  (Romans 3:10-12)

On the other hand, those that might say you and I are ‘…deceivers…’, could be politically correct in their evaluation of us!  How?  Because, admittedly, we God-fearing Christians preach and teach a perfect standard for daily life, yet cannot live up to it perfectly ourselves!  We Christians, if we are brutally honest, and in this strict sense of the meaning, are ALL hypocrites !  Groan

For the good that I would (do) I not; but the evil which I would not (do), that I doO wretched man/woman that I am!  Who shall deliver me from the body of this death?  I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord…”     (Romans 7:14-25)

However, let it not be ever said of us God-fearing Christians - with all our faults and failings - that, ‘…no man/woman spake openly of Him (Christ Jesus) for fear of the Jews (or any other temporal Government or power!) (V.13)

If we are truly saved by Christs Atonement at Calvary - then let us be swift to tell all who will listen that we are indeed Hell-deserving sinners, yet saved by Christ Jesus Who only came ‘…to seek and to save that which was lost.

Thought:  Fear not, there has only, ever, been one perfect Christian - Christ Jesus Himself!   Our righteousness is found only in Him.  Praise His Holy Name!

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