Galatians 2:12 When he first arrived, he ate with the Gentile believers, who were not circumcised. But afterward, when some friends of James came, Peter wouldn’t eat with the Gentiles anymore. He was afraid of criticism from these people who insisted on the necessity of circumcision.
Fear of God liberates us from the fear of man. Even the ‘liberated Peter’, ‘Peter the rock’, ‘Peter the chief among the apostles’ was trapped by the fear of men. He refused to sit at the tables of the new non-Jewish believers as he was intimated of losing the popularity among the Jewish believers. Paul confronted Peter openly and rebuked his hypocrisy. Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25). The bible calls fear of man as a snare or a trap. The same people who praise us will be the ones who will pick up the stones to debase us. As long as we are pleasing man, we can never please God. The temporary excitement will be debilitated once the hype dies down.
Engaging in conversation to please friends, involving in activity to be in the good books of people, going to places to remain popular among a group will be normally rooted in the fear of man. The fear of God will eradicate the fear of man. We will not be threatened by a superior, boss or leader or be intimidated by a political or financial system. The reverential fear of God will make it crystal clear in our heart and mind that God overrules any verdict, prediction or maledict. No one will be able to stand against you. The Lord your God, as he promised you, will put the terror and fear of you on the whole land, wherever you go.(Deuteronomy 11:25).
Fear of God exterminates fear of man:
1. Impression: Anxiety to please people and the qualm that our actions or inactions would displease them, is the fear of losing the favour of men. The harder we try to impress people the more we will weaken relationships. Fear God and do what is right before Him, then people will automatically be drawn towards you. Nations you do not know will come running to you (Isaiah 55:5). Integrity in our heart impresses both God and people.
2. Intimidation: A fear and foreboding of losing the support of people kills vision. If we live under the intimidation of losing fame, favour or fortune we can never achieve growth and fulfill our purpose. Those who sincerely want to see you grow and flourish will never disown you. We don’t have to go out of our way to impress them or be intimidated by losing them.
3. Incarceration: Fear of man would incarcerate us into a vicious cycle of pleasing people. Once we get caught in the fear of man, we can never get out of pleasing people as it is a bottomless pit!
Walking in the reverential fear of God will clothe us with authority and power. We don’t have to go behind people, they will come after us.
Galatians 2:13 As a result, other Jewish believers followed Peter’s hypocrisy, and even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.
Prayer:Lord God Almighty, you are the ultimate authority over my life. Set me free from any fear of man. Amen
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