“If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared.” — Psalm 130:3-4
The fear of God (or the fear of the Lord) is definitely a big theme in the Bible. But, when we think of fear, we often think of, you know, FEAR — or being afraid. Like the fear of spiders or the fear of clowns. Other times, fear is why we don’t do certain things. For example, you might fear flying for fear that the plane might crash. And the reason you didn’t eat the boss’s last donut was for fear of being caught. However, all this is to say that this is not what it means to fear God.
When the Bible speaks about the fear of God, it always has to do with deep reverence and awe for Him. Equally important, it is rooted in a deep understanding of who He is and what He has done. Then we respond by honoring Him as Lord and God over our lives. This is naturally the appropriate response for every believer who recognizes God’s greatness, power, holiness, and authority over all things, including their lives.
So the fear of God is not (in the negative sense) being scared and terrified of Him. On the contrary, it’s a positive response of worship, wonder, and obedience. It is not about being afraid to approach Him and cowering in the corner with fear. Instead, it’s about boldly going to Him because you have experienced His love, patience, kindness, mercy, and grace.
In Your Own Life
To add to that, here are a few simple ways to stir up greater affections of fear and awe for the Lord in your life today.
PRAY. Stop right now to pray. Ask the Lord to reveal more of Himself to you today. Approach the throne of grace with honesty and vulnerability. Along with that, ask for His wisdom and guidance to transform you today. Do that now! And then do it again at the same time tomorrow.
THINK. Growing in your understanding of who God is will re-light a sense of awe and fear for Him in your heart. One way you can do this is by diving deeper into the attributes of God. For example, grow in your understanding of God’s holiness. With that in mind, do a word study, or find a sermon series on the topic. (May I suggest R.C. Sproul’s book “The Holiness of God.”)
RALLY. Surround yourself with lots of other believers who stir your excitement for God and His Word. This weekend (when you gather with other believers at church,) sing and praise the Lord with extreme boldness. On top of that, look for ways to edify and encourage other believers by sharing what the Lord has taught you. Being caught up in fellowship with others will always fan a brighter flame for God.
Lastly, remember that growing in a healthy fear of God is a journey that will last a lifetime. It will surely take an intentional effort and desire to know Him more intimately. But certainly, every step you take will be worth it.
I leave you with the words of Solomon found in Ecclesiastes 8:12, “…I know that it will be well with those who fear God…”
Posted in A Word from the Pastor