Fear of God is life-changing when you begin to understand this is a righteous fear that keeps you on the right path in a spiritual sense. I remember when I was in the sixth grade, I had an excellent teacher that commanded the respect of every student. Her goal was to teach and keep us on the right path. She was caring but also kept strict discipline in the classroom. When she entered the room, students became quiet and found their seats. She was a popular teacher that enabled her students to be successful and profoundly affected me.
What is a Righteous Fear of the Lord?
We live in a society where many people don’t have a righteous fear of God, and that attitude affects every part of their life. We see this manifesting in acts of rebellion that spread like wildfire. People, apart from faith in God, don’t fear Him. Romans 3:13 “Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave. Their tongues are filled with lies.” “Snake venom drips from their lips.” 14 “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “They rush to commit murder. 16 Destruction and misery always follow them. 17 They don’t know where to find peace.” 18 “They have no fear of God at all.” [1]
“When the Bible refers to the fear of the Lord, it means having deep respect, reverence, and awe for God’s power and authority. Rather than causing someone to be afraid of God, a proper fear of the Lord leads one to love Him.[2] With a righteous fear of the Lord, I desire to be led by the Holy Spirit and to follow the Lord’s commandments. I understand the consequences of disobedience and want to please the Lord above all else. This does not mean I don’t sin or fall short, but I strive to move forward along my spiritual journey.
Why Fearing the Lord is so Important.
When I don’t have a righteous fear of God, I don’t restrict my sinful nature and am deceived into thinking God does not care or that my actions will not have any consequences. If satan can fool you into thinking God does not care what you are doing, he has successfully convinced you to walk down the road of destruction.
Many people today do not fear God; if they don’t repent, it will have eternal consequences. What about you? Do you have a righteous fear of God? If so, how has that changed the way you live? If not, how would having a righteous fear of God change your life for the better?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me have a righteous fear of You so I can be all You want me to be in this lifetime. Thank you, Jesus, for giving Your life for me and calling me into a relationship with You. Help me, Jesus, to be a blessing to others. Amen.
To learn more about how the fear of God is life-changing, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/believe-good-news
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ro 3:13–18). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] https://lifehopeandtruth.com/god/who-is-god/fear-of-the-lord/