Oakwood Church Fresh Start Women's Devotional Encouragement for Today Hartland Delafield

A Good Healthy Fear
By Susan Klein

“Now fear the Lord and serve Him with all faithfulness...choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.”
Joshua 24:14a, 15a

I once heard a popular television talk show host declare that a god who had to be “feared” was not a god she would choose to worship. I believe many people today would agree with her sentiment. Yet, Scripture calls us to “fear the Lord” in numerous verses. So, how do we as Christ-followers exhibit a healthy fear of our God?

When you were a child, and you did something wrong, did you fear the outcome or the punishment that would ensue for the wrongdoing? As an adult, when you consider behaving in a way that you know to be sinful, do you hesitate just a bit and consider God’s response to your action? You should! Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” If we have no fear, perhaps we lack the knowledge of who our sovereign God truly is. Galatians 6:7 says, “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” Just like the child who suffers the consequences of her actions, so we should fear the consequences of our own wrongful actions.

The actual Hebrew definition of this word has two parts, much like a battery with a positive and negative side. Each is important in the function of the battery. The first part of fear is a literal emotional feeling of fear or dread, as well as an intellectual anticipation of harm as a direct result of our actions. The second part is a positive feeling of awe or reverence for our God. (1) If a person truly recognizes God as all-powerful and just, this will be reflected in her attitude and actions as reverence and respect. On the flip side, if one does not recognize or choose to serve the true living God, then she will lack the wisdom, reverence and fear that come from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Her battery will be lacking the positive charge, so to speak!

Everyday, we must make choices. Our fear of the Lord keeps us from making wrong choices, while our reverence or respect for the Lord keeps us making right choices. As we grow in our faith walk, constantly being conformed to the likeness of Christ by our loving heavenly Father, our literal fear will wane and our reverential fear will increase!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are the choices you are making motivated by a healthy fear of your God? Spend a little time in Scripture exploring this concept of “fear” further.

FURTHER READING:
Deuteronomy 10:12-21; Luke 1:50; Acts 10:34-35

Susan is our Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She is also involved in youth outreach ministry.

(1) Zodhiates, The Complete Word Study O.T.