Yesterday I mentioned briefly in my lesson the concept of fearing God. Peter says in 1:17, “conduct yourselves in fear” (NIV adds “reverent fear” to soften the term, but the Greek word is “fear”). So what does this mean to live in fear of God? Fear often conjures up negative emotions. We feel fear when a tornado warning is sounded or when we hear a doctor’s diagnosis. We feel fear when the teacher calls our name catching us misbehaving or when the police car starts flashing his lights while driving behind us. Often this is what we can think of when we use the term “fearing God.” We might think of God as a big policeman getting ready to catch us doing something wrong, so we live in fear hoping that we never mess up.
But there is a positive side to fear, as I mentioned yesterday. If the President of the United States was coming over to your house today, probably you would drop everything to get your house ready. You would take out the trash, dust the furniture, wash the dishes, etc trying to make everything as clean as you can for his arrival. Why? Because you know he is a man of importance and you want to show honor and respect for him by making your house presentable. In other words, you fear him in some way. The positive side of fear is reverence, awe, or honor. It is holding someone up in so high esteem that to be in their presence causes you to be nervous – not because you are scared but because you are amazed. Yet it is not just a feeling. True fear – biblical fear – causes us to do something. It causes us to act. A good example is in Ex. 9:20, where it says, “The servants of Pharoah who feared the word of the Lord made his servants flee…into the houses.” Moses had predicted a hailstorm upon Egypt by the hand of God. Those who feared God did something. They acted. They told the servants to get inside. Contrary to Pharoah, they believed in what God could do and revered Him so much that they were going to act in some way. I think that is what Peter calls us to do: to live in such a way, not where we are scared of God, but that we honor and revere Him so much that it makes us want to obey Him. Sometimes we obey God out of gratitude for what He has done, yet sometimes we obey Him because we are in awe and fascination of who He is – that is fearing the Lord.
How do you understand the idea of “fearing the Lord”?
“Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.” Deut. 4:10
Application Point: Ask someone this week, “What are your thoughts about God?” Everyone has an opinion about God and if you ask and listen, they will share. See what people are saying about God and compare it to what Peter said.
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6 years ago
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It is important to fear God and know that he is to be respected and followed. And to follow an action must take place, as Steve said. I feel this is an important way to be motivated to get involved. We are called to follow the Lord, not at our convenience, but at all times not turning to the right or to the left. (Joshua 1:7)
ReplyDeleteThere is such a fine line between being "fearful" and being "scared." I agree with you, Steve, that Fear evokes awe, respect, and a profound sense of power. Yet, there are many instances in the Bible (including the one from Exodus you pointed out) that people were downright *scared* of the Lord. So how do we make that distinction? Between fearing the Lord out of awe and being scared of the Lord knowing what He is capable of doing? (Or NOT doing?)
ReplyDeleteJimmy & I were discussing this yesterday in the car.
ReplyDeleteWhen Chloe & I wrote the curriculum for the jail, we were careful not to soften the word used in the scriptures when it comes to fear. In America, we tend to be very self-confident and forget to tremble in the presence of the almighty God. This is demonstrated when we look at the Words of God and decide to pick and choose what we will do.
When we think of all God has done and can do, we should fear him. When we choose to also love him for what he is (pure, just, and merciful) there is a balance found in knowing everything He does, He does with our best interest in mind.
Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him. (Psalm 33:8)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a child I feared and respected my parents. I was afraid of disappointing them. I wanted to follow their examples, to be like them as I grew in their favor. I respected them, I honored them, I loved them. The same holds true with our Heavenly Father. We love Him and yet, have such a great respect, honor, and love of Him that we fear Him.
"Salvation, glory, honor, and power belong to the Lord, our God" Rev 19:1
Without the true fear of God, one is left knowing nothing (as in 1 Timothy 6:4), because the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Proverbs 1:7). As it is written, "The true fear of God is also the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 111:10).
I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, and nothing taken from it. God does it, that men should fear before Him. (Ecclesiastes 3:14)
There is a definite need for a healthy fear, a knowledgeable fear, a respect for His mercy, an awe of the love that He has for us, a honor for Him because it is only in Him that we have hope. "Therefore, men fear Him." Job 37:24
As we grow in the "grace and knowledge of our Lord" (II Peter 3:18), we learn that it is in Him that mercy is found. We need His mercy, His forgiveness. "There is forgiveness with You that You may be feared." (Psalm 130:3-4)
Mercy is only found with in the power and will of the ALMIGHTY. "To the Lord, our God belong mercy and forgiveness." (Daniel 9:9)
My prayer is that we all may grow in His love, knowledge, respect (sometimes fear)and grow that mercy, hope, and grace may abound.
posted by L. McNair
Thank you brothers and sisters for the posts. WOW! How amazing it is to TRY and fathom the depth of our God!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the previous comments, I had two thoughts.
1. Almost every time, if not all, an angel appeared before man, they fell to their knees, or they trembled w/ fear, etc... (Mary/Mary, and the guards at the tomb, Zechariah, Paul, the 3 wise men, etc.) And just as it was said before, they DID something actionable.
2. I equate this type of fear for my earthly father. I remember growing up and trembling on my knees in fear knowing he was on his way home to discipline me. And this kind of fear has birth the respect and honor I now have for him. When I watch him speak in front of people, teach a class, or lead in some way I am full of respect and I'm so proud he is my dad. When we have our man-man talks now, I still highly respect his wisdom and value his love for me. The "fear" of my earthly father causes me to act too.
I believe this is one of the many threads of God's plan for us. We are His children and as we grown in Him he desires us to lean on His wisdom and accept His love. He is our true Father, our everlasting Father.
Healthy fear helps us as christians to ACT. That's what our job is; DOERS not sitters.
Amber,
ReplyDeleteGood thought and question! As I think about it, I feel like a part of "holy fear" is being a little bit scared. I can think of many examples where someone came in contact with God and his majesty and was scared, as you pointed out. But I think the bigger question is scared of what? If someone is simply scared of God because he might punish Him or find Him out, that might motivate someone to do what is right. But I think we would agree that is a ineffective long-term motivation. That is the negative side of fear, as I described. But if someone is scared of God because of the sheer magnificence and power of God, that actually might be healthy and appropriate. I think to The Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe and the beaver's description of Aslan, "He is not safe, but He is good." When we fear God, we understand that He is not safe - He is mighty, powerful, majestic, and holy beyond our comprehension, and yes, that does scare us. But we also know that He is good. This produces in our hearts a healthy and good fear that motivates us to follow Him over the long-haul.
My fear of the Lord did not begin until I was in His Word regularly. Continuing with your examples from Exodus, I think Moses was a great example of "good fear" while the Israelites were often just scared of God (Exodus 20:18-19). I find that when I am scared of God, I miss out on an intimate relationship with Him. Another aspect of fearing God that I like is found in Exodus 20:20 - "Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning".
ReplyDelete~Bek
Way to put things into perspective Steve.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the challenge. I will be asking someone what their thoughts on God are.
This ia a great way to communicate. I have one suggestion: Is there anyway that you could play some real spiritual music beside the "repeat" "repeat" music of the "ZOE GROUP? I belive HU has some good music?
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