Fearing the Lord

Fearing the Lord

Did you know in the NIV the word fear appears 326 times? Did you know in the NKJV the word fear appears 454 times? Do we know what it means and are we living it?

Christians today don't understand fear, fearing of the Lord. Christians want ride the grace and mercy wave their whole life, missing out on what God wants to do for them and through them. When things go wrong, they never even think or have the thought cross their minds that it could be a correction from the Lord. Fear is healthy. It tells us we have consequences and helps us avoid those consequences. Fear is also respectful. God, the entire Triune God, deserves our all and awe.

How many times do we come up with excuses why we aren't doing what we should be doing? Or blame God for a sacrifice we might have to make in order to serve Him. Aren't you glad He didn't come up with any excuses when Jesus was being sacrificed on the Cross? Aren't you glad Jesus was willing to make the sacrifices He did? He cried tears of blood for you, He died for you.

No fear... all pride. It's what we feel we're entitled to. Entitlement should only come from God. Truly we have no entitlement. God can do what He desires to do with us. We can't command God to do anything. It's all up to Him. No fear... disobedient. No fear... all pride. Here's a true story:

A church was looking for a pastor. An interim pastor had been there a few months. The congregation liked everything he was doing. People were getting save, pews were being filled. The church was growing. It wasn't perfect. How could it be, we're all imperfect beings. This interim pastor was about to be voted upon to become the senior pastor. There was one particular elder who did not want the changes in the church. He didn't want the growth. He continued to do everything he could, in his might and power alone, to stop what God was doing. This elder wouldn't stop. He kept living in his own denial, his own disobedience, his own prideful self. Three weeks before the vote for Senior Pastor, this elder who was considered to be in good health and only 56 years young, died quickly of a heart attack. God took him home and removed him. True story.

How many times has God said to do something and you don't? Or how about something simpler; are you making time to be alone with God? Are you praying everyday? Are you reading? Are you studying? Are you crucifying your flesh?

We all have excuses... I work too hard, work days are too long, too much stress, not enough time, etc. God's not worth a sacrifice? Excuses can be comforting, they can even give you peace. Justification feels good. But for how long? What's the consequence, what's the price?

Do you have a habit that you need to let go of? Poor financial choices? Pornography? Drinking? Gambling? Smoking? Entertainment habits? The list is endless, no doubt. Do you need to make time for God? Where and how are you spending your time? Are you praying and studying? Some think reading a paragraph is studying. Studying requires note taking and digging and a whole other article.

Churches today are becoming more and more complacent about the things of God. The church will NOT stop God's plan. We all have the blueprint for what the future is going to bring. Are we prepared? Are we preparing those around us? What happened to fear in our lives, in our churches? There is less and less regard for God in everything these days.

We can make a difference and we have to start with ourselves. We have to be renewing our minds everyday and we have to make that commitment to Him. We can commit to TV, we can commit to a sport, we can commit to a hobby. Committing to God gives a lot of people the wrong kind of fear and they get the lost in space look or the deer in the headlights look. They don't want to give up their selfish tendencies.

Please please don't misunderstand. God wants you to have fun and have an enjoyable life here on earth. To have true enjoyment and fun MUST start with Him. Where do you spend most of your time? What habits are you unwilling to let go? Are you waiting on tomorrow? Tomorrow is hear! God will see you through and help you through it all. All things are possible with Him! He NEVER EVER lets you down.

A healthy fear will bring you into such a close relationship with Him that it will knock your socks off! He wants to love on you, but how can He when you don't give Him the time He longs for to be with you. Get to know Him, intimately, honestly. Make the sacrifice for Jesus! Turn off the TV, the computer, get up a few minutes earlier, whatever it takes, because He first loved you.

Be honest with yourself.... be honest with Him. Regardless of your Bible translation of choice, there's a lot to look up if you need more on fear.