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Thought for the day... Tuesday, March 09, 2010 - Day 68 |
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The Fear of God
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding." Proverbs 9:10
The Greek word for "fear" (phobia, from which we derive words such as claustrophobia) appears approximately 160 times in the New Testament. Fear immobilizes. Usually you express fear in the area of loss. You fear the loss of your daughter as she undergoes open-heart surgery, or the loss of your job in the midst of corporate layoffs. Jesus said, "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" [113] If you can gain one thing, while loosing another, you should also fear what you gain: the world at the expense of your soul.
Fear keeps you from danger. Those who have no fear of heights are more likely to fall from a height than those who do fear. The fear of disease causes some people to eat well and exercise often. Fear can be a good thing.
Governments know that they must promote fear in order to maintain order. As the culture in Europe Christianized, governments sought to tie their legitimacy to God through such means as the divine right of kings. Paul says, "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation." [114] To disobey government is to disobey God.
You cannot separate the fear of God from faith in God. The Savior cautions, "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." [115] Only God can send your body and soul to hell. God wants you to fear Him.
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Devotional © Copyright by Walter A Henrichsen.