A treasured gift from God
Last time we discussed how to build a healthy awe of God. In this final post, we will explore the practical changes and effects to one’s life as a result of a healthy fear of the Lord¹.
Understanding, internalizing, and experiencing God’s glory and majesty is what builds one’s fear in the Lord.
To fear God is to esteem, respect, honor, venerate, and adore Him above anyone or anything else.
Paul writes in Philippians 4: “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”
Apply this to what we know about God and we’ll find how glorious He is:
- Isaiah, Moses, and John tremble at the glimpse of His glory. They recognize how powerful and set apart He is, through just a sliver of His presence (Isaiah 6, Exodus 3, 19, 20, Revelation 1). Imagine being starstruck by someone you admire and multiple that by infinity.
- He spoke and light became a thing (Genesis 1). We may be builders, but He is the only one who creates.
- He sustained His people through the wilderness even though they lacked faith and rebelled (Exodus, Numbers). He is active, working, and just.
- He renews the life of the woman at the well (John 4). Jesus knows us intimately as cherished image bearers of Himself. What freedom there is in Him.
- The Holy Spirit transforms the lives of fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots, giving them purpose, joy, and peace. Can you sustain such things on your own? Where does your willpower end?
- He knew that we couldn’t save ourselves, that we couldn’t uphold a standard where we could be in His presence. And He loved us so much that He crafted a path to redeem us back to Him through the sacrifice and resurrection of His son. Could you, if you are a parent, sacrifice your child for the sake of others?
- Jesus, who has been with the Father since before time existed, who lived in perfect love and perfect community, agrees to accept the punishment for all our disobediences, through death and complete separation from the Father. Could you give up everything for everyone else?
When we meditate on who He is and allow His Spirit to do the redemptive work in us, we change. The fear of God changes us:
- We begin to walk in humility with Him and others.
- We stop people-pleasing because we respect Him more than fear man.
- We love what He loves, and hates what He hates.
- We love on people in the ways that He loves us.
- We begin to hate sin.
- We pursue holiness; for we don’t want to be without Him.
- We learn to give praise to Jesus, the only one worthy of it.
- We immediately obey Him and His word, determined to carry out His will on our lives. Because there is no better way than walking with the Lord.
These changes mature us in our salvation (Philippians 2:12–13).
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7).
It deepens our relationship with God: The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant (Psalm 25:14).
The fear of God is a treasured gift to His people (Isaiah 33:6).
¹: This series is inspired by The Awe of God by John Bevere. It’s a good book for people who want a serious and purposeful walk with Jesus.
