Learning The Fear Of God

Sunday, May 19,2024

  Good morning, Lord

Verse of the Day: Hebrews 6:10

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

Memory verse: Psalm 90:14

14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.  

Today's reading: 1 CHRONICLES 10-12 JOHN 6:45-71

Learning The Fear of God

I will make with them an everlasting covenant, that I will not turn away from doing good to them. And I will put the fear of me in their hearts, that they may not turn from me. (Jeremiah 32:40)

Time after time, the children of Israel, God's chosen people, turned away from God and this resulted in judgement on this earth-defeats in war-sickness-death-bondage to enemies. Yet, they continued to turn away and sin.

This sounds like the life of an ordinary Christian in our time. When we turn away from God in sin, it never turns out well. It always ends in some kind of pain. Sometimes it ends in some type of bondage from which we need deliverance and recovery.

Where is our fear of God? Some continue to reduce fear to a great respect-which is a part of fear-

The old testament shows us where we are without the fear of God:

 “What wrong did your fathers find in me that they went far from me, and went after worthlessness, and became worthless?” (Jeremiah 2:5)

Worthless? Worthless to the kingdom of our God who gave His son to die for us?

Why fear God? Besides the pain that results from sin, the fear of becoming worthless to His kingdom should be enough. No matter how great we might become on this earth, if we turn from God, we are worthless to Him. When we sin we are worthless to God.

Yes, we live in the age of grace, but sin is still sin and we are warned:

5...“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,

    and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,

6 because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,

    and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Hebrews 12

So, yes, have a great respect for God, but fear the discipline of God for your sin and fear His voice saying that you are worthless to Him in your sin.

The result of sin is pain-fear this yes, but fear more the absence of the good worth God intends for you in His kingdom:

39 I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear me forever, for their own good and the good of their children after them. Jeremiah 32

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. John 14:15

Proverbs 14: "26 He who fears the LORD is secure in confidence, and his children shall have a place of refuge. 27 The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.…"

1 John 4:18 ►"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."

 Perfect love knows no sin and is completely obedient. We must admit that God is working on us daily and we have a long way to go.

...because He loves us...

Father in Heaven,

Most holy God, have mercy on me and forgive me for my turning from You. Change my turning from You into yearning for You.

Constant and complete God,

In the name of Christ Jesus,

Amen