I’ll return to Galatians tomorrow, but for today, here’s a real short and simple verse that I love, Proverbs 1:7:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Do you want wisdom to know how to live moment by moment? Walk in the fear of the Lord. This will bless you and lead you and give you knowledge. Fear Him. Not man, friends, or peers, but God!
What is the fear of the Lord?
The best way I would describe it is standing in awe of God — His might, His power, who He is! It’s not fear in the sense of being afraid (though there may be aspects of that); rather, when we rightly consider Him, though we can’t comprehend Him fully, this will be our reaction to the God that He is.
The fear of the LORD involves walking in His ways, trusting Him, hoping in His mercy, serving Him, departing from evil, loving and obeying Him — just to name a few things I’ve seen in Scripture.
However, the thing that has blessed me the most in my study of this so far is that when I see the fear of the LORD, I see timelessness, promises that extend beyond my lifetime and into eternity. Unlike some of the other promises given in Scripture, these promises to those who fear God go beyond today to future generations:
Luke 1:50 “His mercy is on those who fear Him from generation to generation.”
Psalm 103:17 “But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him, and His righteousness to children’s children”
Psalm 19:9 “The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever.”
How amazing to think that the result of fearing Him might not only be my complete joy and His great mercy upon me, but also extended to my children and their children!
PRAYER: Lord, please help us to fear You and walk in the fear of the Lord! You are awesome and mighty and powerful and worthy of all our worship and honor. May You be exalted in our lives, lifted up, and feared. We love You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Praise Proclaimer 