Too often when people hear the word, “fear,” they interpret it negatively—it does not always have the undesirable connotations that first come into our minds.  For instance, after hearing and reading in the Bible about the “fear of God,” I quickly learned that it did not mean I was to be afraid of God but that I was to be in awe of Him.  I was to admire, be amazed, and hold Him in reverence.  When I finally understood that definition of fear, my faith and trust in God began to have noticeable growth spurts.  

The more in awe I was at His presence, power, and especially His unconditional love for me in my imperfect condition, the easier it became for me to trust Him in every aspect of my life.   Proverbs 1:7  (NIV) tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”  Without knowledge of God’s goodness and grace, how can we then trust Him—how can we have faith in His promises—in His love and mercy for us.  Our faith and trust will grow only as we develop an intimate relationship with the Lord.   

Proverbs 1-7 also cautions us that it is foolish not to admire wisdom and follow instructions.  Many times, it is our foolishness or refusal to take instruction as reflected in many of our imprudent decisions, that most likely is at the root of our problems and hinders our spiritual growth. The Bible relates that the Lord asked us “…to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for your own good?”  Deuteronomy 10:12-13 (NIV)  It’s interesting that the Lord only asks us to do these things for our “own good” because He loves us and knows how painful and damaging many of our impulsive decisions are to us and others.   

When we are in awe of God, obedient to Him, and believe that He is in control of all the circumstances in our lives, our disagreeable fears will vanish, and we will begin to enjoy the blessings of being a child of God.  Our life will mirror God’s goodness and mercy for others to see.   

https://biblehub.com/sermons/proverbs/1-7.htm

Juanita Adamson 8/18/22