Thursday, February 17th – God IS To Be Feared

We will not get very far in our relationship with God unless we understand that He is to be feared. If we want to know the meaning and purpose of life and how everything functions and works-if you want wisdom and knowledge, the Bible says, “you need the fear of the Lord.” Those who fear God are going to be much smarter and wiser, especially with the application of knowledge, than those who do not and if you look for it (wisdom) as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.

When we say “fear of God,” we are not talking simply about being scared; but we are actually talking about knowing God, and fear is a consequence of that. Fearing God is a respect for the power of God’s Word and to be doer of His Word. When we fear God, we hate what He hates. We hate sin. What do we see in our culture? We see a great toleration of sin. We see also a redefinition of sin-things that God says are wrong, people are saying that it is okay.

The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life to avoid the traps of death. Everlasting, eternal, won- derful life and all of its blessings, is really rooted in the fear of the Lord. So, that is why the fear of the Lord is sometimes a statement just simply indicating a believer in contrast to a nonbe- liever. Those who fear God have a concern about sin and the effects of sin which is death.

We should fear God because He delivers and protect us. God provides for our needs and prom- ise us future salvation. Brethren, let us reflect upon the total character of God. In our day many want to reflect upon the love of God and that is part of God.

However, God is also holy and righteous. “The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The Lord takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. The Lord is slow to anger and great in power; the Lord will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. He rebukes the sea and dries it up; He makes all the rivers run dry… The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at His presence, the world and all who live in it. Who can withstand His indignation? Who can endure His fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before Him.”

The psalmist understood this awesome wonder when he wrote, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good,” and then urged God’s saints to fear Him (Psalm 34:8-9). We need not cringe in terror, but we must live before Him with reverence and awe. Our holy God isn’t “safe,” but He is good. If you fear God, you need fear nothing else.