Love God Greatly: Fear & Anxietyናሙና

When God tells us to not fear, He is asking us to trust Him when our circumstances are uncertain. God also instructs us, as His children to fear Him. This is not a passive response of cowardice. Instead, it is an active execution of worship. 

The way in which the Israelites worshipped God at the temple on the Day of the Atonement represented this sense of utter respect of the Almighty. At Jesus’ death, the curtain of the Holiest of Holies was torn, and all were given access to God. However, the command to fear remained. The fear of God is meant to drive us to know and love Him more as we seek to live a life that is obedient to His commandments. 

God instructs us to fear Him, not so we will be estranged from Him, but so we can have a better understanding of who He is. When we fear the Lord for who He is and what He has done, we grow in our understanding of His holiness. Instead of cowering, we grow in faith because we place our trust fully and completely in Him.

Father God, thank You for being my Almighty God in whom I can place my trust. I praise You for Your holiness. Thank You for the access I have to You through Your Son. Father, help me grow my trust in You as I consider Your holiness. In Jesus’ name, amen.