Last night in Bible Study, we walked through Psalm 34 and talked about whether or not a Christian should fear. One of the common responses was there are different kinds of fear. There’s both a healthy fear and an unhealthy fear.
Reverent Fear-is a healthy fear and is what is being referred to when the Bible refers to the fear of the Lord.
This is a fear that we should all have, but not all do.
Jeremiah 5:22 (NIV) tells us:
“Should you not fear me?” declares the Lord. “Should you not tremble in my presence”?
What’s being described here is a healthy fear; unfortunately, some people fear the Lord in an unhealthy way.
They think of God as a Zeus like character with a lightning bolt in hand just waiting to throw it their way! Reverent fear is not that God is up in heaven waiting for us to mess up so he can squash us like some bug.
We worship an all-powerful, always present, all-knowing God, and that is something that is beyond our imagination.
God is so awesome that merely being in His presence is something that we can’t even comprehend, and being aware of this brings about a reverent fear!
There are times even during worship service, you may feel his presence so strong that you can’t stand, the tears begin to stream down your face, and you become completely overwhelmed by the awareness of His presence.
An awareness of who God is brings about this reverent fear, and it’s something that is missing in the lives of many believers today.
We have become so cavalier with our attitude towards God!
Even within the church, many people not only no longer have a reverent fear of God, but they don’t even have simple respect for Him anymore.
Many Christians have lost the awareness of God’s presence.
We must never forget that He is always present.
If we would walk in an awareness of Him being present in our daily lives, I believe we could live a life free from unhealthy fear.
What are your thoughts?
7 comments On Fear God and Fear Not
Good word Pastor! I have found the more I learn about God the more I want to please Him. Fearing God to me is having so much honor and respect for Him that I want to do what I can to please Him in my everyday life.
Joe,
You’re right it’s not a matter of doing to earn love but rather doing out of love and honor for Him.
I agree “walk in an awareness of Him being present in our daily lives, I believe we could live a life free from unhealthy fear.” If left unchecked the unhealthy fear can consume you. Walking in his presence fulfills and in lightens.
Sandra,
Yes! So true! We can be free not just from the sin we once walked in but also free from the fear the enemy tries to use to direct us.
You have put this in a way everyone can understand. Good word pastor Todd! I can’t count how many times tears would come out of nowhere and the presence of the Lord was so powerful!
Judy,
The awareness of his presence and love is such a overwhelming and powerful place!
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