Walking in the fear of the Lord (2)

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“Show respect for all men [treat them honorably]. Love the brotherhood (the Christian fraternity of which Christ is the Head). Reverence God…” 1 Peter 2v17 (AMP)

Sometimes, the fear of the Lord may bring you in controversy with man. What do you do then? Matthew 10v28 (AMP) says “And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be afraid of Him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” The fear of the Lord keeps us on that crucial narrow path – man’s standards and motives for things change, but we can be assured that every Word of God is pure (Proverbs 30v5) and He is a God of love. Some people fear man more than God. But Proverbs 29v25 (AMP) tells us that “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever leans on, trusts in, and puts his confidence in the Lord is safe and set on high.” Peter and John were once in trouble with the religious leaders, Acts 4v18-21 (AMP) says “[So] they summoned them and imperatively instructed them not to converse in any way or teach at all in or about the name of Jesus. But Peter and John replied to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you and obey you rather than God, you must decide (judge). But we [ourselves] cannot help telling what we have seen and heard.” In Egypt, Pharaoh had asked the midwives to kill the Israelites babies that were male, but the Bible says “But the midwives feared God and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded, but let the male babies live” (Exodus 1v17, AMP). Shadrach, Mesach, and Abednego would not bow down to the golden image because of their reverence for God (see Daniel 3). Showing a respect for God and His Word and His ways is seen in sometimes everyday decisions that we make. How do your decisions show your reverence for God?

Supplementary Text

““Everyone who acknowledges Me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But everyone who denies Me here on earth, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.” Matthew 10v32-33 (NLT)

Prayer

Father, we thank You for Your Word. Father in any way we have been disrespectful to You, please show us, forgive us, and help us to honor You in every way. As Psalm 86v11 says, we pray today “Teach me Your way, LORD, that I may rely on Your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name” in Jesus name we pray, amen.