August 13 - A Snare By Fear.

Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.”
 
Who do you fear?
Fear of man brings a snare upon us, which is used here to describe a cause of injury.
 
The three Hebrew boys of the Book of Daniel faced a horrible snare because of their disobedience to King Nebuchadnezzar’s demands. Instead, the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, shined brightly through the flames of the fiery furnace because they chose to fear the Lord instead of man.
 
Daniel 3:16-18
“Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.”
 
Obedience to God instead of men will always result in a higher reward.
If the Hebrew boys would have chose to bow, they still would not have burned; however, they would not have seen the glory of the Lord through the flames or been such a pivotal example for us today of what is possible if we would simply obey what God says.
 
Acts 5:29
“Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.”
 
When we fear God instead of man, we can be boldly confident that He will help us.
 
Hebrews 13:5-6
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”
 
There is no need to fear anyone else, if we have a godly fear of Him.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Job 13-14  |  1 Peter 3  |  Proverbs 13