Fearful or Courageous

Mark 6 In Proverbs we read: the fear of man is a snare but whoever trusts in the Lord will be set on high. [Prov 29:25] In this chapter we meet two men, one who is fearful of all men and one who is not. One has fallen into the snare or trap of the evil one and one is set free from fear and thus courageously steps into the lion’s arena to speak truth even in the face of death.  

King Herod is fearful of all people and when he met John the Baptist who boldly told him ‘It is not lawful to you to have your brother’s wife.’ [Mark 6:18] he was exceedingly fearful. You see, his wife Herodias nursed a grudge against John and wanted to kill him, yet Herod knew in his heart that John was a righteous and holy man.  

Herod heard the truth yet was more fearful of man or his wife than of God.  On the other side was John who feared God more than men.  

How about you? Where do you stand in the face of fear?