The midwives, however, feared God and did not do what the king of Egypt had told them to do; they let the boys live. (Ex. 1:17)

Dating is tough sometimes when you are a Christian. I remember vividly before I got married trying to navigate some tough terrain. How do I stay pure in thought and deed, while also responding to the nudge I sense from God that a relationship he wants for me is coming? Having had a not-so-stellar past in some relationships prior to my recommitment to Christ, I wanted to honor God and my future wife by setting boundaries that would not lead to any unnecessary emotional ties or sexual sin. I often felt like a recovering alcoholic who physically stays away from bars for fear of relapse.

Could it be possible that some fear is healthy? One could argue that what I am referring to is self-discipline or simply wisdom. But if I’m honest, for me it was also fear. I was afraid of hurting God, wrecking my life, or hurting someone else. I had already been down that road and didn’t plan on going back.

In this story, the fear of God caused the midwives to see the image of God in others and they refused to devalue them. Often as we travel along our journey, we have more than one voice trying to tell us what to do and whom we should value. What if, like the midwives, we feared God more than people’s opinions about us?

Challenge any other voice that does not line up with God’s Word.

Santes Beatty is director of multiethnic ministries for The Wesleyan Church.

© 2019 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission.
Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.