Proverbs 9:10
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”
It is said that Glossophobia, the fear of public speaking, is at the top of the list of what people fear most. The fear of death: Necrophobia, fear of spiders: Arachnophobia, and Achluophobia: the fear of darkness, round out the top four. I am thankful that none of those give me pause, except for spiders, which are creepy but don’t cause me to be overly anxious.
Growing up in a military family, I was keenly aware of what rules I was expected to follow and which ones I felt were worth pushing the limits. My parents had some pretty strict standards and rules imposed upon me, which, in my mind, were mostly to spoil my fun. There were times when I broke the rules because I was pretty sure I wouldn’t get caught. But, generally, I had a healthy fear of their authority and, when I disobeyed, punishment was justified and fair. I knew they loved me and always wanted the best for me, and I tried my best not to displease them. As I grew up, I came to realize that they had earned and deserved my respect.
In 2 Timothy 1:7, we read that “God has not given us a spirit of fear…” But we are also instructed in Proverbs 24:21 to “fear the Lord.” What exactly does it mean to “fear the Lord?” Sadly, it’s a phrase we don’t hear much anymore. Maybe that’s because many people lack a clear understanding of what it means.
First, let’s address what fear doesn’t mean—it doesn’t mean we cower in fear for what He might do to us as a mean, vindictive task-master. What fear means in this sense is respect, reverence, awe, or honor. Another definition of fearing God is “a wholesome dread of displeasing Him that would result in our suffering the consequences of our sins.” Proverbs 8:13 says, “To fear the Lord is to hate evil.” Out of respect and reverence for the Lord, we should hate the things God hates, behave in a way that honors Him, and love the things that He loves.
Sadly, we don’t hear much about the fear of the Lord or phrases like “He is a God-fearing man (or woman).” Churches today rarely preach on God’s judgment. Those subjects may have gone out of style, but they have not been erased from God’s Word. We hear more about love, social justice, and self-improvement than we do about repentance. A reminder that we are to “fear the Lord” should be heard more often from the pulpits in our nation.
A healthy understanding of God’s view of sin—that He hates it and takes it very seriously—is what is needed. What I learned from my parents—if I loved them, I would obey the rules of the house—goes hand in hand with what Jesus taught, “If you love me, you will obey my commands.” (John 14:15)
Many in today’s society do what is right in their own eyes, without fear of getting caught or suffering the consequences. It would behoove us as individuals and as a nation to consider whether we have a healthy fear of God. One day we will be called to give an account of ourselves to God for the righteous judgment that is to come. Romans 14:11 says, “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’”
What must we do now? Fear God. Repent. And pray.
Holy God, You who deserves all respect, reverence, and honor, we praise You for Your patience with us. We acknowledge that You are our righteous God, and all glory is due Your Holy name. But, we continue to grieve You. We push the limits, ignore the warnings, commit sin, and even condone the sins of others while turning a blind eye to the evil around us. Reveal those sinful actions and attitudes in our hearts that we have brushed under the rug. Because we have chosen not to look at them, we presume that You can’t see them, so we have no fear of You. Oh, how foolish we are! Forgive us, Father, we beg. We plead for mercy in the precious name of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.
I am honored that you have taken the time to read my devotion today and pray it encourages you and glorifies God. To receive Devotions For All Reasons in your mailbox every day, go to the homepage and simply click on “Subscribe.”
