A biblical fear of God is one that produces awe, trembling, and reverence. It is the type of fear that drives us to the arms of God not away from Him. This fear does invoke a fear of consequences and intervention for our sins...but it recognizes that God is also a loving and forgiving God. It causes us to recognize our need for Him in our lives and for His sovereign control.
So...if I am not abiding in Him, walking close with Him, or turning to Him through His Word and prayer, maybe I am not fearing Him as I should. If I continue in sin as though I have not been redeemed then I also lack fear of Him. If I have no fear of God then I will have no wisdom, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
To call myself a Christian and have no fear of God is to be a "practical athiest"--to believe there is a God but not live like it.
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- I am a Pastor's Wife. I have committed my life to following Christ--there is no turning back. The Lord is constantly revealing to me the things that need to change in my heart--yet he does this with such patience and grace. I could sing of His love forever--and I will.
I must decrease...HE MUST INCREASE!
More of you Lord in my life is what I desire. Please make it so.
5 comments:
Your comment on my site makes me uncomfortable. Not that it was wrong but I guess I don't see myself as that different from anyone else. I see my own heart and know how much growing there still is ahead of me so I struggle with not wanting to make anyone feel like I am somehow farther along. I remember when my oldest daughter was 17 and passionate about missions. I admired her passion very much. Like we discussed yesterday, It is SO cool to see their passion come out and hear that they are "getting it" but I guess I don't want them to see me and my life as much as I want them to see Christ and if they are seeing me then I feel like I am not doing it right. Does that make sense. I don't want to be the focus of the anger but I am and I guess I feel like they think it's my standard they have to live to and that is what is hard. It's God's standard we all have to get to and that is a constant struggle all our lives. I wish I could be that transparent with the people I want to be with but it sounds preachy every time I try and it makes me mad at myself cause that isn't what I want to do. I want to come along side as it were and not drag them behind me.
practical atheist indeed. It is scarier when we know we are crosswise with God and become apathedic about it. That scares me.ALOT.
I believe it is right to recognize the work the Lord is doing in our lives and the difference HE makes when we decide to submit. But it should not be our focus. OUr focus should continue to be on the Author and Perfector of our faith. Our focus should be on the ONE who is doing the work, not on ourselves.
We ourselves are not different than anyone else, we are all just vessels, made of dust, yet awesomely created in His image. We all have so much growth that needs to take place. But to ignore the work that God is doing in our lives and where he has brought us from where we first began, does that minimize His grace in our lives? IT's such a fine line to walk...so easy to step over into pride. Perhaps not comparing myself to others, but only comparing myself to where I was and where I am today? Maybe comparing myself to His standards of where He wants me to be today and where He will have me be tomorrow?
Somehow we are to be able to recognize when we are in a position to come along aside as the "stronger" one and help those in need--Galatians 6:1. But there in that same passage is that strong caution: Be HUMBLE. God knows how easy it is to go from being the "more spiritual" to the "weaker" one needing restoration. We too need to recognize that.
that was a perfect. The comment above in response to mine. I appreciate it, the ironing. Sometimes I don't see the forrest. My heart is so very foggy right now. Thanks for being there and for the honest reflection you are to me. I am desperate right now to see how this will end. I think alittle too desperate sometimes guaging by the fact that my fog lights are not on and my anxt is proof to me that I am lacking honest surrendered trust. If I could force compliance I would in a heart beat yet I am so very humbled by the fact that HE doesn't force it in me so where do I get wanting to force it in others. Shows or exposes a whole lot about my own heart.:-)
I think it is okay to notice God's handiwork, even in our own lives...but so important not to take credit for it. He is the one who is at work in us. But we do "work out our salvation...with FEAR and TREMBLING"-I sense humilty and a reverence for God behind those two words.
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