Why fear God? Part 1

This is the first in a series of three posts, on why we fear God.

There are many reasons.

To fear God is to revere him.

Everything God has ever done requires reverence.

To fear God is to recognise his awesomeness.

We are in awe of God.

Mountains are magnificent and we stand in awe looking up at them. How much more awesome is their creator? God.

To fear God is to understand his ultimate power over everything.

We cannot conceive how great God is… we just know there is no limit to his power and abilities.

And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

MATTHEW 10:28

What else does the Fear of God provide in us?

Knowledge

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

PROVERBS 1:7

This is so true.

Many people always think they are right, and listen to noone else.

They repeat the same foolish mistakes.

They spurn God and his ultimate wisdom.

They spurn God’s infinite love.

How foolish is that?

Or they rely on God’s mercy alone.

Yes God is all merciful.

But he is also all just.

There are consequences for sin.

Yes God will forgive if you repent, but this world he created has consequences if we go against his laws.

Noone gets away with anything.

Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

PSALM 110:10

Once we appreciate the majesty of our Lord… we start to become wise instead of foolish.

Wise men act cautiously, not cowardly.

Wise men act with due reverence towards God our creator and giver of all things.

The more power we give to God in our lives, the wiser we become.

The more we fear God, the greater our acts of wisdom.

Understanding

Wise men fear their benefactor.

They understand that God is our benefactor, the provider of all things.

For what the Lord has given the Lord can take away.

Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
    and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away;
    may the name of the Lord be praised.

JOB 21:1
   

LET US PRAY:

THANK YOU HEAVENLY FATHER FOR EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GIVEN US AND HELP US TO FEAR YOU MORE REVERENTLY AS WE LONG TO OBEY YOU. SHOW US HOW TO LOVE YOU MORE, IN OUR THOUGHTS WORDS AND ACTIONS. IN JESUS MIGHTY NAME WE PRAY. AMEN.