SCRIPTURE Matt. 10:28 "Don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot touch your soul. Fear only God, who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

OBSERVATION Most people live in fear of people--what others think of them, if others accept them, what others may do to them, who is doing better than they are--and their fear of people can cause them to lose their fear of God. They do things to please people even though it offends the God they really should be living in fear of. As Proverbs says; "the fear of man brings a snare" but "the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom". How true!!

APPLICATION/CONFESSION How often do my thoughts go to what others think of me. I get wound up in thier opinions of me and my estimation of their acceptance of me. I want to be just as--no, a lot more--concerned about how God feels about me. My heart (I love Him so much) and my soul (my eternal destiny) are tied up in Him, so He is the one I should be fearing. Fear of man leads to offense against God. Fear of God leads to serving and loving people in the a healthy and productive way.

PRAYER Lord help me always to remember to fear you and not people. Convict me when I am acting out of fear of man rather than fear of You.