Courage and overcoming fear of man

Hebrews 11:23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's edict. Today we draw our encouragement from Moses’ parents and the Hebrew midwives. We learn from the Holy Spirit that it was faith that gave them the courage to ignore Pharaoh’s edict to throw all of the newborn Hebrew sons into the Nile (Ex. 1:22). They feared God more than they feared the king. In verse 21, we read that “the midwives feared God.” In chapter 2:1-4, although faith isn’t mentioned, we see its fruit—courage and overcoming fear of man. Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a daughter of Levi. The woman conceived and bore a son; and when she saw that he was beautiful, she hid him for three months. But when she could hide him no longer, she got him a wicker basket and covered it over with tar and pitch. Then she put the child into it and set it among the reeds by the bank of the Nile. His sister stood at a distance to find out what would happen to him. In one sense, Moses’ parents cast their son into the Nile according to the edict, but the Spirit of God led them as to when and how to do it. We know this is true because the faith mentioned in this verse is a work of the Holy Spirit. It was a testimony of God to them, giving them assurance that God would protect their son.  If we are going to live to love with Jesus, we must have courage and overcome fear of man. Having courage and no fear of man comes from faith, which is the grace to draw near to God. We learn from the faith of the midwives that the fear of God overcomes the fear of man. Being afraid of what people are going to say or do to us is contrary to faith and hinders the love of Jesus. Jesus made the connection between faith and fear of man when He said to the Jews in John 5:41, “I do not receive glory from men,” and verse 44. “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?” You can see it clearly, can’t you? Jesus didn’t seek glory from men, but from God. He told them they couldn’t believe if they didn’t seek glory from God (fear God) above the acceptance and approval of man.  We may conclude then that one of the distinguishing characteristics of a God-wrought faith is its focus on pleasing God rather than man. Such is the work of the Spirit of Christ in our hearts, which enables us to love with Him. The love of Christ is bold and courageous, conquering fear of man.  May we be encouraged today to seek the glory of God as we relate to and care for the people God puts in our paths. God gets the glory as we abide in Jesus, receive His love, and give what He gives us to love others. This is confirmed in John 15:8. Right after encouraging them that they would bear fruit as He abided in them and they abided in Him, He said, “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” So let us seek the glory of God by abiding in Jesus and living to love with Him.