Fear Of Man

The fear of man brings a snare,But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Proverbs 29:25 (NKJV)

Peer pressure is a huge dilemma for most teenagers. As teens, most of us feared being different or looking different. But, sadly, many never grew out of it. The pressure to fit in and to please people can not only cause us to do wrong, but it can also keep us from doing what is right. It can keep us from speaking up for what is true and good.

Many people have never read the book of Jeremiah in the Old Testament. They think it could never apply to them living in this modern, complicated world. Not so. Recently as I read it, I felt like I was reading front page news. Man-pleasing religion, false spirituality, corrupt political shenanigans, tragic moral decline, and the rejection of godly principles—this was going on in the once-godly nation of Israel. It was heartbreaking. Even the so-called prophets of God were saying, “It’s fine. We will never suffer the consequences.”

But then there was Jeremiah. He had the Word of God in his hands, a deep care for the people in his heart, and God’s message on his lips. He would have been much more comfortable and popular if he had just shut his eyes and shut up, but he couldn’t. The Lord himself had stirred his heart.

Jeremiah stood with God, and it’s been said, “Just one standing with God is a majority.”

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Like Jeremiah, we live in a world of compromise. Many so-called Christians are chameleons. They say they love God, but they live like the world. This is very confusing to those who don’t know Christ. Even the guy at the bar has no respect for this double standard. It’s time for us to live true to our faith and true to the God who is faithful to us. “Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose” (Philippians 1:27).

One Year Bible Reading

Obadiah 1:1-21; Revelation 4:1-11; Psalm 132:1-18; Proverbs 29:24-25