If you have been following me or know me, you are aware of the “fear factor” that revealed itself, as I became more and more transparent in the early days of living in the jungle. Fear of death by arrow or fear of huge scorpions, snakes or spiders is not where we are going with this blog. But the fear issue of being creatures with natural fears is the springboard for where we are going. Why do we have a “fear response” at all?
Reflecting glory back to God with my fear has been a profitable exercise of faith in understanding the purpose of it to begin with. Why is fear so prevalent and practiced? Why is it misused and abused? When you look at what we face in our families, churches, communities, nationally and globally, you get a clearer picture of how we have been deceived.
The directive has always been to fear one thing only. That would certainly simplify the “fear” issue, wouldn’t it? We are told to “Fear God”! Fear the consequence of sin. Why do I need to fear God? Isn’t His very character loving and protective? Why would I fear God?
There is a very good reason this should be a top contender of consideration. We are told that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” Pro. 1: 7 I gain knowledge of biblical truth by “fearing the Lord!”
Let’s let the Bible define what it means “to fear the Lord”. “It is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.” Prov. 8: 13 The greatest visible evidence of our fearing God is simple obedience to what He says in His Word.
Ladies, this means no “acceptable sins” are permitted:
· No Deception
· No Covetousness
· No Fearfulness
· No Loneliness
· No Stinginess
· No Dominance
· No Double-mindedness
· No Disrespect
· No Slothfulness
· No Presumption
· No Apathy
· No Hypocrisy
· No Extravagance
· No Wastefulness
· No Anger
· No Rudeness
· No Irresponsibility
· ETC….ETC…
Where do you find yourself? Accepting His sovereignty? Fearing God by obeying Him brings blessing and peace. Focusing on God’s purpose for fear frees us to be useful, instead of paralyzed. It motivates us to see what God has in whatever circumstance we find ourselves in and it empowers us to see from His frame of reference and get in harmony with Him and what He is doing. To fear God is to fear sin. To fear sin is to fear God.
Do you “fear the Lord” and the consequence of your sin?
This is the “fear” we need to heed…
NOT the fear of future, failure and futility!!
It’s a faith issue…obedience is the fruit of faith…
~Jackie Johnson - I am a former tribal missionary to the Kuna Indians on the Colombian border in Central America. Fluent in several languages, my husband and I currently pastor a Spanish-speaking church in Southern California. My passion is mentoring and equipping dedicated young women for life, marriage, motherhood, and beyond. I am the mother of two daughters and the grandmother of three Princesses and four young Knights.
