Having a solemn reverence for God may seem backwards to some, but according to the wisest man that ever lived, it is the way forward
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The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
-Solomon, Proverbs 9:10
There's something important in the development of a believer that often gets overlooked. It's a building block to faith, but because it's also a little awkward and somewhat confusing, we tend to avoid it. This is very unfortunate given how helpful and life-enhancing it can be.
Solomon, the son of David, one of the wisest if not the wisest person who ever lived (besides Jesus) called it the fear of God. He mentions it repeatedly in the Proverbs, like here:
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied; he will not be visited by harm.
-Proverbs 19:23
Simply put, the fear of God is just a healthy sense that God is real, He cares, He sees, and that He is involved in our lives. Just like a child hopefully has an awareness that there is a loving person who is watching over them, so the fear of God is an awareness that we're being watched over by God.
This means we're never alone. It means we haven't been left to ourselves. It means God is always there, always providing, and ready to intervene when called upon.
But the fear of God also refers to the awareness that God will always hold us accountable for our choices. Not only does he reward us when we seek him, he also disciplines us when we don't. Being perceptive to this reality is a marker of spiritual maturity. Ultimately, the fear of the Lord helps us make better decisions in life.
The fear of God is just a healthy sense that God is real, He cares, He sees, and that He is involved in our lives.
Thankfully, those who have placed their trust in Jesus are shielded from condemnation for our sin (Romans 8:1). This means we don't have to fear God's wrath in the same way that an unbeliever does - of being cast away from God's presence forever. Yet, when a Christian knowingly and intentionally disobeys God, we can expect that he will deal with us. In love, he will chasten us and it will probably hurt.
Avoid the fear of the Lord no longer. Let it grow within you. Nurture it. Value it. Because after all, like a wise man once said, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of something good.
It's a new day with God. Run with it.
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