Are you walking in the fear of the lord?
When you think of "The fear of the Lord" what comes to mind?
Perhaps you consider it a way to show respect to God by not saying his name in vain or when you interact with a minister of God you alter your behavior in their presence, so that you don't offend "the man upstairs"-You know they represent him so out of respect you tone things down.
You might even feel strongly about attending a church service during a religious holiday, because that is what your family has done for years, and it makes you feel like you did a good deed to take a day to acknowledge God.
The fear of the Lord is more than that. It’s a lifestyle that is mindful of honoring and revering God with your whole life--striving to please him. It is informed through God's word.
The bible speaks on this:
“These are the commands, the decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life.” — Deuteronomy 6:1-2
It was a lifestyle God called his people to. They were to sojourn through life by obeying God's commandments and decrees.
They were to have a godly awe, reverence, and devotion to God; They feared God's discipline, displeasure, and judgment.
God called his people to walk (live) in the fear of the Lord, but also to teach it to the generations to come.
"so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all His decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life"
The call to walk in the fear of the Lord is not an obsolete truth that was something done back in the day. It is applicable and relevant for today, tomorrow and the future to come.
"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever." Is. 40:8
The New Testament continues with calling and characterizing Christians as people who are to walk in the fear of the Lord.
So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied. Acts 9:31
In contrast, Today we can see what a society looks like when it does not walk in the fear of the Lord.
“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” Romans 3:18
When God's word is not the authority, then the fear of the Lord is absent and there are no limits on what society deems true and right in their eyes. There is no acknowledgment of a creator, call to moral godly living, and a never ending of redefining of things like marriage, sexuality, and gender.
Speaking on this topic, One Bible scholar writes:
"The root cause of sin as the failure to fear and honor God. Any society that commonly assumes that God will not discipline sin in this life or judge it in the next will have no fear of God and will therefore give itself increasingly to evil."
God is calling his people to follow Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit to walk in the fear of God. No matter what society says is good or evil. God's word is the foundation and source for determining everything pertaining to life and godliness.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8
If you consider yourself a Christian, are you striving to walk in the fear of the lord?
When faced with a decision/choice to make in life, are your default attitude & thoughts: Will this be honoring and pleasing to God? Does this line up with his revealed will?
To Learn more about Christianity visit
the link here.
Comments
Post a Comment