Fear God, 216

 ~ Results of Fearing God ~

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.”  

Scripture Passage  ~  Proverbs gives us the essence of the “fear of the Lord.”  “The fear of the Lord is to hate evil; pride and arrogance and the evil way and the perverse mouth I hate.” (Proverbs 8:13)

Some Results of Fearing God  ~  While there is a long list of benefits that arrive from the fear of God I particularly like this verse:  “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; He saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.  Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.  Fear the Lord, you His holy people, for those who fear Him lack nothing” (Psalm 34:6-9).

“Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name” (Malachi 3:16).

Application To Life  ~  When a person acknowledges the reality of who God is there are many natural results.  Here are a few: 

1.      Repentance (confessing asking forgiveness and turning away from continued sin).  See for example Matthew 9:13.  

2.      Seek to please God and He will give you the proper attitudes and desires.  See for example Psalm 37:4.

3.      New patience will be evident, what is sometimes referred to as “waiting on God.”  See for example see James 1:3-4.

4.      An alertness to temptation and pressures (both external and internal) to conform to this world.  See for example 1 Peter 5:8.

5.      There will be a willingness to persist in prayer.  See for example Luke 21:36.

6.      There will be His peace permeating your life.  See for example Isaiah 26:3 and Colossians 3:15.

7.      As all of the above becomes an increasing reality in your life you will be doing God’s will for your life.  See for example Ephesians 5:17. 

The Bottom Line  ~  “Praise the Lord!  Blessed [happy] is the man who fears the Lord, who delights greatly in His commandments” (Psalm 112:1).

Closing Comment  ~  The Bible tells us that people in the past feared God and people in the future will fear God.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *

Saints

 ~ 5 Views of Living Saints on Earth ~

Saints Called By Grace  ~  “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; to all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 1:5-7).  

Saints Gathered To Christ  ~  “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice” (Psalm 50:5).  

Saints In Assembly  ~  “For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord?  Who among the sons of the mighty can be likened to the Lord?  God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in reverence by all those around Him” (Psalm 89:6-7).  

Saints Faithfully Ruled  ~  “Ephraim has encircled Me with lies, and the house of Israel with deceit; but Judah yet ruleth with God, and is faithful with the saints” (Hosea 11:12).  

Saints Glorified With Christ  ~  “When He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed’ (2 Thessalonians 1:10).  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *

God Our Rock, 10

 ~ God Is My Rock ~

Introduction  ~  In Matthew 7:24-27 and Luke 6:47-49 Jesus relates the importance of building your house upon rock rather than sand.  This principle is even more critical when it comes to our spiritual life.  Each post in this series looks at a different Biblical passage which refers to our God as a Rock (not a complete list). 

Scripture  ~  “I will love You, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies.

“The pangs of death surrounded me, and the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.  The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me; the snares of death confronted me.  In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears” (Psalm 18:1-6).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.

* * * * *