Fear God and Fear Nothing Else

Biblical Balance to Fear:  Fear God and Fear Nothing Else.

Fear is a very unpleasant emotion characterized by the anticipation of pain or suffering.  Fear is always based upon intuitive knowledge.  Some fears are healthy; others are unproductive and simply paralyzing.  The Bible outlines for believers what they should be afraid of and what they should not.   The summary of which is this:  Fear the Lord and fear nothing else.  The problem with most people is that they fear many things but have no fear for the one true God.  Objective assessments of truth are the key to setting these fears straight.  People do not fear the Lord because they do not see God.  The Fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom.  When you begin to understand how the World really operates, you will gain a healthy fear for the Lord.  Knowing the Fear of God is the secret to overcoming every other fear.  People are snared by their fear of men precisely because they do not know God for themselves.  David said ‘yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.”  He is the foundation upon which we set every other fear straight.  The people of Smyrna were about to suffer persecution and they were afraid.  God tells them they have no need to be afraid.  Overcoming fears always involves making reassessments about how we think of something. Facing your fear is that first step in making such reassessments.  We are told in Scripture to consider it all joy when we fall into various trials.  Why?  Because trials do a work that will perfect and complete us.   What else can man do to you that God does not first allow for your own good?

A Fresh Perspective on why Persecution always accompanies God’s blessing.

If you want God to bless you and make your life better than everyone else, realize that many others will not applaud your success.  Misery loves company.  Persecution always goes hand in hand with success because we do not live in a vacuum in this world. People will often never give you a second thought when you stay a failure and a nobody.  Overcome your sins, be blessed by God, and some envious audience will always take notice and hate you for it. Every major persecution outlined in Scripture was always spawned by either envy or conviction.  The favoritism Joseph enjoyed drove his brothers to sell him to Egypt.  Saul sought to kill David only after his victories made all the women sing his praises. The plot to throw Daniel in the lion’s den was only formulated after his ascension to political dominance could be realized.  Fear of losing their influence drove the religious establishment to kill Jesus.  Fear of losing their business drove the tradesmen of Diana idols to pursue Paul.  With blessing comes persecution. Believers are told in Scripture to rejoice when they see such persecution.  Not for the persecution itself, but for realizing the blessings you enjoy that drive them to persecute you.  Do not let a little trouble from the opposition shake you and let you lose your crown.   Overcome your fear and you will experience a high like you have never experienced before.  People who face their fear and let it die often feel more exhilarated and alive than ever before.  Perhaps this is part of the promise God gives to Smyrna for obtaining the crown of life.