Fear God
As promised, I am assembling a few thoughts about the concept of fear as it relates to God.
The Scriptures state: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Prov. 1:7)
It has always intriqued me to contemplate "fearing God." After all, the Creator of the Universe, the Giver of Life, the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Omnipresent Deity could simply snuff you and I out like a gnat between the index finger and thumb. Squish!
But that's not the God I fear. Not like the Allah of Islam. Not like the crotchety old Supreme Being from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ("Stop your grovelling!"). My God is awe-inspiring, worship provoking, reverent fear inducing. That's the key.
We "fear" a God that we know (albeit only in a small part). We have seen Him in His only begotten Son Jesus. We reverantly fear the God we know, because He is ALL that is expressed in paragraph two above AND more. He is merciful, loving, compassionate, present in our time of need. His Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the seal of our redemption, the power of God for living a life of godliness. The more we "fear" God, the closer we get to wisdom, knowledge, wholeness, knowing as we are known.
Yet, there are many who fear God precisely because they don't know Him. They cower, shrink back, hide their faces from His judgment and holiness. They, like the people in a haunted house slowing shuffling to the next scare, shuffle through live, trying to appease Him Who can never be appeased.
But, you who name the name of Christ Jesus... Enter boldly into His presence. Bow down and kiss the Son. Worship God in reverant fear. That's the place of peace.
The Scriptures state: "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline." (Prov. 1:7)
It has always intriqued me to contemplate "fearing God." After all, the Creator of the Universe, the Giver of Life, the All-Powerful, All-Knowing, Omnipresent Deity could simply snuff you and I out like a gnat between the index finger and thumb. Squish!
But that's not the God I fear. Not like the Allah of Islam. Not like the crotchety old Supreme Being from "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" ("Stop your grovelling!"). My God is awe-inspiring, worship provoking, reverent fear inducing. That's the key.
We "fear" a God that we know (albeit only in a small part). We have seen Him in His only begotten Son Jesus. We reverantly fear the God we know, because He is ALL that is expressed in paragraph two above AND more. He is merciful, loving, compassionate, present in our time of need. His Holy Spirit is the Comforter, the seal of our redemption, the power of God for living a life of godliness. The more we "fear" God, the closer we get to wisdom, knowledge, wholeness, knowing as we are known.
Yet, there are many who fear God precisely because they don't know Him. They cower, shrink back, hide their faces from His judgment and holiness. They, like the people in a haunted house slowing shuffling to the next scare, shuffle through live, trying to appease Him Who can never be appeased.
But, you who name the name of Christ Jesus... Enter boldly into His presence. Bow down and kiss the Son. Worship God in reverant fear. That's the place of peace.
posted by Steve Snediker at 1/05/2006 03:56:00 PM
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