Fear of the Lord
I been asking God about how Fear of God and Love for God. How can the two go together.
This morning, God said while i was driving
"The fear of God keeps you from sinning. The love for God keeps you doing the right thing"
And that really hit me hard. I decided to do a study on the fear of God.
Firstly, it is not a OT issue (Matt 10:28, Luke 1:50). New testament talks about fear of God, a lot.
Secondly, the fear of God is far more then just reverence (Heb 4:28). It is really a fear of who God is, the fear of what God can do. Rev 21:8 warns us (pretty severely) for those who are basically sinners (of which we all are saved only by the grace of God), that they will suffer. If at all, it is a worthy fear. Jesus says in Matt 10:28 "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (emphasis added). I think it is safe to say that one reason we fear God is because of what He can do to us.
Heb 10:26 tells us that if we continue to sin, then what we have left is a fearful expectation of judgment. The reason we Fear God or why we should, is because ultimately, God will judge us. He will test us. He can destroy the soul and body in hell. God can do that, it is not just His prerogative, it is his ability. God is God, the maker of heaven and earth, where Earth is his footstool, the palm of his hand spans the stars, He is the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Angels cry Holy. The first and the last, the one who knows the measurements of the earth, who shut the sea with doors, commanded the morning,seen the doors of the shadow of death. Treasury of snow and hail is His. I mean, should we fear Him? YES.
I used to think that Fear of God is the wrong thing. Like i mean, why should we fear Him? He tore the veil, allowed us into the holy of holies. Yet God's nature does not change. He is STILL God! Fear is inherently selfish, it is self preserving. Because we fear God, we will keep from sin (prov 16:6)
Ultimately, the Fear of God is simply this: The revelation of who God is. If we come to realise who God really is, then we know that what keeps us from two deaths (the first which none escape from, the second which is reserved for those who reject the truth) then we will really FEAR Him who can destroy the soul and body. And God's mercy is only on those who Fear Him (luk 1:50).
But then, how about Love? Love the Lord your God, love your neighbour (Deut 6:5, Mat 22:37-40, Mrk 12:28-34) tells us that the whole law hangs on LOVE. Why?
Because if we love God, if we truly Love God fully, then we will do the things that will not hurt Him. I.e. we will do the things He wants us to do, not just not sin, but to do the right things.
Fear keeps us from straying away. Love drives us toward God. The law serves as a tutor to faith, to show us what it means to love and have faith in God, and also to show us what happens when we sin.
God, i need that fear of you. because without it, I am finished.
This morning, God said while i was driving
"The fear of God keeps you from sinning. The love for God keeps you doing the right thing"
And that really hit me hard. I decided to do a study on the fear of God.
Firstly, it is not a OT issue (Matt 10:28, Luke 1:50). New testament talks about fear of God, a lot.
Secondly, the fear of God is far more then just reverence (Heb 4:28). It is really a fear of who God is, the fear of what God can do. Rev 21:8 warns us (pretty severely) for those who are basically sinners (of which we all are saved only by the grace of God), that they will suffer. If at all, it is a worthy fear. Jesus says in Matt 10:28 "fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." (emphasis added). I think it is safe to say that one reason we fear God is because of what He can do to us.
Heb 10:26 tells us that if we continue to sin, then what we have left is a fearful expectation of judgment. The reason we Fear God or why we should, is because ultimately, God will judge us. He will test us. He can destroy the soul and body in hell. God can do that, it is not just His prerogative, it is his ability. God is God, the maker of heaven and earth, where Earth is his footstool, the palm of his hand spans the stars, He is the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, Angels cry Holy. The first and the last, the one who knows the measurements of the earth, who shut the sea with doors, commanded the morning,seen the doors of the shadow of death. Treasury of snow and hail is His. I mean, should we fear Him? YES.
I used to think that Fear of God is the wrong thing. Like i mean, why should we fear Him? He tore the veil, allowed us into the holy of holies. Yet God's nature does not change. He is STILL God! Fear is inherently selfish, it is self preserving. Because we fear God, we will keep from sin (prov 16:6)
Ultimately, the Fear of God is simply this: The revelation of who God is. If we come to realise who God really is, then we know that what keeps us from two deaths (the first which none escape from, the second which is reserved for those who reject the truth) then we will really FEAR Him who can destroy the soul and body. And God's mercy is only on those who Fear Him (luk 1:50).
But then, how about Love? Love the Lord your God, love your neighbour (Deut 6:5, Mat 22:37-40, Mrk 12:28-34) tells us that the whole law hangs on LOVE. Why?
Because if we love God, if we truly Love God fully, then we will do the things that will not hurt Him. I.e. we will do the things He wants us to do, not just not sin, but to do the right things.
Fear keeps us from straying away. Love drives us toward God. The law serves as a tutor to faith, to show us what it means to love and have faith in God, and also to show us what happens when we sin.
God, i need that fear of you. because without it, I am finished.
Labels: Fear of God
posted by W | Friday, September 28, 2007
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home