Fear God, 129

~ The Fear of God Brings Honor ~

God does not want His children living in fear.  “Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3).  However, God does want His children to have a proper respect and reverence for Him.  We are told in many places in Scripture to “fear God.”  

This Week’s Passage  ~  “A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself, but the simple pass on and are punished.  By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.  Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse; he who guards his soul will be far from them” (Proverbs 22:3-5). 

Fearing God Results in Salvation  ~  “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  “A wise person fears and departs from evil, but a fool rages and is self-confident” (Proverbs 14:16).  This does not mean the Christian is to live a fearful life—but a life which reverences God and seeks to do His will. 

Fearing God Results in Fearlessness  ~  “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Psalm 27:1).  The answer is: only God.  With the gift of salvation comes responsibility.

Fearing God Results in Witnessing  ~  “Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will declare what He has done for my soul” (Psalm 66:16). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Bible Simile, 14of14

~ The Bible is Like Gold It Is of Great Value ~

Bible Similes  ~  The Word of God likens itself to a number of practical items.  “The Word is like…”  In this series we will look at some of the similes of the Bible which are presented clearly in the Bible itself. 

Comment  ~  Up to this point in this series we first looked at food items—which are good for consumption, digestion, nourishment (life sustaining), and enjoyment.  Next we looked at some tools—which are useful for daily living.  In this post we see the Word of God being likened to gold—a raw material of great value.  

Like Gold  ~  “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  Moreover by them Your servant is warned, and in keeping them there is great reward” (Psalm 19:7-11). 

Application  ~  Like other raw material we can allow it to remain in its present form or we can make valuable use of what we have been given.  That is the secret to the Word of God.  First, acknowledge you have access to supreme value and then act upon that fact.  “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.  But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does” (James 1:22-25). 

Summary  ~  How about you?  Is the Word of God a buffet of spiritual food for your soul… for your life?  Is the Word of God a useful tool box full of principles and guidance for making your way through life.  Do you value the Word of God more highly than material possessions?  If not, why not? 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Bible Simile, 13of14

~ The Bible is Like a Hammer—It Can Both Break You and Make You ~

Bible Similes  ~  The Word of God likens itself to a number of practical items.  “The Word is like…”  In this series we will look at some of the similes of the Bible which are presented clearly in the Bible itself. 

Like Fire  ~  “‘Is not My Word  …  like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?’” (Jeremiah 23:29). 

Application  ~  A hammer can build or destroy.  In the hands of someone set out to destroy a hammer can break even strong stones.  The building demolition crew often has a greater purpose in mind.  The old shack that was torn down might be making room for a more functional and useful building.  Likewise, sometimes being broken humanly is what leads an individual to questioning the reality and purpose of their existence.  “The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit” (Psalm 34:18).  “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart—these, O God, You will not despise” (Psalm 51:17). 

In the hands of a craftsman a hammer can build a piece of furniture, a building, on a beautiful piece of art.  God is the Master Builder.  He can fashion something great out of something that was useless.  “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance.  And he went out, not knowing where he was going.  By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:8-10). 

Supplemental Material  ~  “The Touch of the Master’s Hand”

by Myra B. Welch (1877-1959) 

‘Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer thought it scarcely worth his while
To waste much time on the old violin, but held it up with a smile.
“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried, “Who’ll start the bidding for me?
A dollar, a dollar, then, two!  Only two?  Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?
Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;  Going for three…” 
But no, from the room, far back, a grey-haired man came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low, said:
“What am I bid for the old violin?”  And he held it up with the bow.
“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?  Two thousand!  And who’ll make it three?
Three thousand, once; three thousand, twice; and going and gone” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand, what changed its worth?”
Swift came the reply: “The Touch of the Master’s Hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune, and battered and scarred with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd, much like the old violin.
A “mess of potage,” a glass of wine; a game - and he travels on.
He is “going” once, and “going” twice, he’s “going” and almost “gone.”
But the Master comes and the foolish crowd never can quite understand
The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought by the touch of the Master’s Hand.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .