"Don't be afraid," Moses answered them, "for God has come in this way to test you, and so that your fear of him will keep you from sinning!" Exodus 20:20 NLT
God revealed His awesome holiness to Israel on Mount Sinai. He did this so that they would know His glory and live in a healthy fear of Him. So great a God is not to be trifled with nor are His commands to be taken lightly.
One motive for obedience is love. If we love God we desire to please Him and so we obey Him. But another equally Scriptural motive for obedience is fear. God hates and judges sin. Sin brings Him great displeasure. Fearing God means watching our step so that we do not arouse His anger or dishonor His name by our sin. The fear of God is not just an Old Testament concept that accompanies the law. The fear of God is also found on the pages of the New Testament and it accompanies grace. "And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as 'foreigners in the land' (i.e. your days on earth)" (1 Peter 1:17 NLT). Let us both love and fear the Lord that we may please and not dishonor Him.
Father, open my eyes to more clearly see Your awesome holiness and to understand Your attitude toward sin. Help me to cultivate in my life a holy, healthy fear of You that motivates me to obey and honor You in all things.
I"m praying for you.
Pastor Mark
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Good Morning Pastor Mark, I remember growing up in a Baptist Church where we was taught about both characteristics of God. I was taught of a loving God but most of all about a all seeing, all knowing, all powerful God. It saddens my heart that this generation have such a cavalier idea of a Holy, righteous, and just God. The very thing that brought me back to God was the fear of going to Hell. Now that I walk with Him I know the other side of His wonderful love. But, it took the truth about Hell to get me to acknowledge Him, then I thank Him for the early teachings I got from Greater Friendship Baptist Church in Panama City Florida. I hope to instill this same fear in the hearts of my Grandchildren. Love in Christ Francie
ReplyDeleteI agree totally, Francie. The cavalier attitude we see today is most likely a product of our failure to teach the fear of God as well as the love of God.
ReplyDeletePastor Mark