Two Bookends : Fear of the Lord & Being Kept in His Love.Sample

Let us look at the first bookend in this devotional. Some people are preaching another gospel where sin and repentance are not mentioned. You cannot come to Jesus without repentance. Repentance is turning away from old loves, and idols, to worship the only true and living God.

Repentance makes us realize that we need to change. What will motivate me to change and keep on changing to wanting to become more like Jesus? There are several things but one of the things is the right reverence and awe of God. So let us look at that.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Prov. 1:7

If I want to be wise the Bible tells me that I need to fear God! Fear is an old English word that is not used in today’s language when describing how we need to relate to God.

What does it mean? The Hebrew word for fear – yirah means reverence The Hebrew verb yare can mean “to fear, to respect, to reverence” and the Hebrew noun “yirah” usually refers to the fear of God and is viewed as a positive quality. (Warren Baker and Eugene Carpenter, The Complete Word Study Dictionary: Old Testament).

The Greek noun phobos can mean “reverential fear” of God, “not a mere ‘fear’ of His power and righteous retribution, but a wholesome dread of displeasing Him” (Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, 1985, “Fear, Fearful, Fearfulness”)

Fear is not the same as being afraid. Afraid is to do with shame.

Why is reverent awe or the fear of the Lord important?

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death. Prov. 14:27

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. Psalm 111:10

Also, important to note is that the fear of God which is reverent awe is not just an Old Testament value to be ignored today.

Jesus said, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt 10:28

Philippians 2:12-13

“Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

The fear of God will keep us from sin.

REFLECTION

·When was the last time you felt a reverential fear of God?

·What did you do about it?