Fear God

“Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell. Yes, he’s the one to fear. [Luke 12.4-5]

I know I have written about the topic before, but it is worth revisiting today.

God is love. It is true. God is patient and kind - full of long-suffering and mercy. God is indeed good. God desires that everyone repents so they may be forgiven - and He is patient with that goal.

However, because God is perfect, imperfection may not even come into His presence. That is where the human problem lies. That is where, when all is said and done, that God is ultimately to be feared.

I have heard so many people try to make the word "fear" used in the passage above to mean something more like "respect" instead of actually being afraid. But you know what? That is just not true! To fear God means exactly what Jesus said it means - to be afraid of the Supreme God Who can cast anyone into eternal suffering.

Let's talk about respect for a moment... Respect might be see as a good thing, however, at its core, while respect may indeed honor another, at the same time it retains its own pride. Respect tends to look at the one it respects as an equal - as if the one respecting has just as much power as the one respected. Pride is NEVER good. EVER.

It is totally okay to be afraid of God. In fact, until people once again fear God, there is little chance of real repentance. And, without repentance, there is no forgiveness.

Father, thank You for this reminder today that You alone are Sovereign and that You, in that position are to be feared!