psalm 119:38

38 - Stablish thy word

unto they servant, 

who is devoted

to thy fear.

"Fear of the Lord."

An old-fashioned phrase which has gone out of vogue, but not out of the Logos.  Living it out requires deep roots.

"We will soon learn that
we cannot truly love God until we fear Him,
nor can we properly fear Him until we love Him."
John Bevere
"The Fear of the Lord" (1997)

     "There are people who are quick to acknowledge Jesus as Savior, Healer, and Deliverer.  With their mouths they acknowledge His lordship.  Yet they reduce His glory to the level of corruptible man by their actions and heart attitudes.

    They say, "God is my Friend; He understands my heart."  It is true that God does understand our hearts even more thoroughly than we can understand ourselves.  But usually this comment is given in justification of actions that contradict His covenant.  The fact is, they are in disobedience to God's Word.  In the Scriptures, the only people I see God calling His friends are those who tremble at His Word and presence and are quick to obey, no matter the cost.

     Therefore, He does not receive the honor and reverence He deserves, or else they would instantly obey Him.  With their lips they honor Him, but their fear toward Him is taught by the commandments of men.  They have filtered God's Word and commands through their own culturally influenced thinking.  Their image of His glory is formed by their limited perceptions rather than by His true image as revealed through His living Word...

     ...Often the messages we have preached over the past twenty years via pulpits and airwaves have given God the appearance of the "Sugar Daddy in the sky" whose desire is to give us whatever we want, whenever we want it.  This spawns short-lived obedience for selfish reasons.  Parents who raise their children in this manner end up with spoiled children.  Spoiled children lack a true respect for authority, especially when they do not get what they want when they want it.  Their lack of reverence for authority sets them up to be easily offended with God...

     ...The more extensive our comprehension of God's greatness . . . the greater our capacity for fear or reverence of Him."

"The Fear of the Lord"

by John Bevere

(1997)

"He has no fear as to the truth of the word 

who is filled with fear of the Author of the Word."

~Charles Spurgeon

© 2012 by Melani Brady Shock