Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
The name of the Lord describes his person, character, and works. God—all he is and all he does—is a strong tower. We run to him, embrace him, and cling to him. He provides safety and security. Like a child hanging on to his father, we cling to him, and he upholds us with his powerful right hand (Ps. 63:8).
But the “eyes of the Lord are in every place” (Prov. 15:3). He does not distinguish between “on stage” or “backstage.” He puts our hearts on his scale to reveal if our pretending outweighs our commitment to him. When we turn our hearts wholly to him, the playacting is over.
Fearing the Lord is not living in terror and dread of him. That’s what Martin Luther called servile fear—a prisoner waiting to be tortured or executed. Rather, fearing God is a filial fear (filial in Latin means family). This fear is love, awe, and respect for the One who provides us with security and fills us with significance.
Until then, we live in awe and respect God—in fear of the Lord—for his sovereign work in the world and our lives—even when we don’t understand.
So, when we read in Scripture that we should live in fear of the Lord, it means that we are to live in awe and respect for our heavenly Father, who demonstrated his great love to us by sending his Son to die for our sins. We live in awe of his love, his greatness, and his power.
Whether rich or poor, we are all sinners and fall short of the glory of God. Whether rich or poor, we all need a Savior. Whether rich or poor, the question is, “Have you trusted in Christ alone to forgive your sins and place you in a relationship with the living God?”