Fear is a powerful motivator. Live in fear of the world, and you will try to control, lash out, or become paralyzed when people and circumstances do not respond the way you want. But ‘the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom…’ (Prov 9:10). To fear the Lord is to live in holy awe and reverence of who He is, and what He has done. Is it any wonder our world is running scared when even those who claim Christ are given more to fear of man than fear of the Lord? When the posture of our life is oriented around anything other than God, our life is overtaken by worldly fear. But when our lives are seen in a proper perspective, wisdom is the fruit (Ps 90:12).
As A.W. Tozer reminds us: ‘Wisdom comes to the heart that is hungry for God.’ Our fears are exposed in our appetites - fear of the world or fear the Lord. Jesus invites us to exchange our fear of the world for fear of Him, and when we fear the Lord, we are invited not to fear (Is 41:10).
Lord, let us live in fear of You. Freed from fear that paralyzes, seeks to control, or becomes angry, into fear which leads us in worship and surrender to find life in You. Thank you, that we have nothing to fear. In Christ’s name, amen.
In fear,
AB