Peer Pressure

# 220 - Today's Du-votional comes from: 1Sa 15:24 “Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.” (1 Sam 15:24) Saul has just been informed that God is stripping him of his kingship and in desperation he makes a confession of his sin. He agrees that he did not follow God's orders to utterly destroy the Amalekites. But his confession seems a little tainted as he tries to divert the blame to the people. We are often guilty of the same thing aren't we? We fear what others may think of us and join in with their sin rather than obey the voice of God. We fail to take a stand in the face of injustice. We fail to confront sin in our midst, because people may think we are prudish or intolerant. Our silence in these matters puts our stamp of approval on them. And as we read in Ro 1:32, “who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” The Bible has much to say about this matter of what we call “peer pressure.” Ex 23:2 "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; Pr 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe. Isa 51:12 "I, even I, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you should be afraid Of a man who will die, And of the son of a man who will be made like grass? Saul's problem, and often ours, is misplaced fear. We fear man more than we fear God. Jesus sought to set us straight in this matter in Lu 12:5 "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!