Fear God, Not People

“Don’t be afraid of people, who can kill the body but cannot kill the soul. The only one you should fear is the one who can destroy the soul and the body in hell.” - Matthew 10:28

Christians have no need to fear people. People have limited power. The worst thing a person can do is kill the physical body. Physical death for Christians is not a tragedy because to die is to be with Christ and that is far better than earth. Death also transitions Christians into eternal glory where there is no more sin, sorrow, sickness, or suffering. This is the best thing that can happen to a Christian.

Christians really need to fear God more. He has the ability to send both body and soul to hell. That is scarier because hell separates people from God and Christ forever (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Hell is not a pleasant place. It is a place of pain where the fiery lake of burning sulfur is never put out (Matthew 25:41, Revelation 19:20). In hell the pain never ends.

For Christians, it is worth suffering hardships or even death for our faith. If we do, God promises to save and restore what we lose (1 Peter 5:10).

If someone is struggling with the fear of people, here are some Bible verses to turn to as reminders of God’s promise for His people:

The Lord says, “I am the one who comforts you. So why should you be afraid of people, who die? Why should you fear people who die like the grass” (Isaiah 51:12)?

“Being afraid of people can get you into trouble, but if you trust the Lord, you will be safe” (Proverbs 29:25).

Prayer of the day:

Dear heavenly Father,

It is easy to fear people. Some people are mean and say and do things to hurt us. Give us the courage to stand firm in our faith without fear. Help us not to fear people who can only kill our body. But You can do much more. You can also send our souls to hell. Hell is not a place where we want to go because it is painful, and the pain never ends. It is better for us in heaven with You and Jesus. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!