The fear of the Lord leads to life

I fear my God. May this be the beginning, the foundation, the source of any wisdom I may have. I have been crying out for wisdom, for understanding – and my fear of Him is growing.

The writer of Psalm 119 feared His God. “My flesh trembles in fear of You. I stand in awe of Your laws". 

My God is Holy, Holy, Holy.

I know what it cost Him that I could be adopted into His family, a sinner like me, who has failed to keep His law.

It cost Him His only begotten Son, His beloved Son with whom He is well pleased.

He gave His Son up to death as the punishment for all my sin, for without the shedding of blood there can be no forgiveness of sin.

THIS makes me fear Him.

And through my adoption into His family He has given me, not a spirit that makes me a slave to fear, but rather the spirit of sonship by which I can cry out “Abba, Father!” His beloved Son delighted in the fear of the Lord through the Spirit of the Lord. It is my prayer that I may understand something of what it means to delight in the fear of the Lord.

But when I cast my eyes around me at the world in which I live, at a world which has no fear of God before its eyes, then my flesh trembles in fear of Him.

Knowing that my God is Holy, Holy, Holy, and knowing that His wrath will be revealed against the wickedness of men makes me fear Him.

Knowing that my God is Holy, Holy, Holy, and knowing that when He rises to shake the earth, men will flee from Him, makes me fear Him.

O, let all the earth fear the Lord, let all the people of the world revere Him! 

(Ps 33:8)

For this is what He says concerning those who fear Him:

“Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honoured his name. ‘They will be mine’, says the Lord Almighty, ‘in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not’” 

(Mal 3:16-18).

May we fear God, and give Him the glory.

Wonders on the earth below

May all the kings of the earth praise you, O Lord,
    when they hear the words of your mouth.
Psalm 138:4

Our God is an Almighty God. He demonstrates His signs in the heavens above and on the earth below.

The wonder of Him demonstrating His signs is that so many people do not see His hand at work. His powerful, majestic hand.

The wonder of Him demonstrating His signs is that so many people do not hear His Voice. His powerful, majestic Voice.

O land, land, land, hear the word of the LORD!

“Though seeing, they do not see;
"though hearing, they do not hear or understand.”

Jesus spoke in parables when He dwelt among men, God incarnate, speaking the very words that God gave Him, and His words were accepted by His own. Others could not understand because of a hardness of heart, unbelief.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”

Today is the day of salvation. The eternal gospel is still to be proclaimed to those who live on the earth—to every nation, tribe, language and people.

In His mercy, God continues to speak. He is not silent. Even when He speaks in judgment, there is still opportunity for repentance. Even in the Hour of Judgment, the eternal gospel continues to be preached.

The worst thing that can happen to us is for God to cease to speak.

“O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.”

“For if you remain silent, I will be like those who have gone down to the pit.”

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear.”

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Almighty God, Heavenly Father, thank You that You continue to speak. Thank You that You speak through Your Word. Thank You that You speak through Your signs in the heavens above and on the earth below. Give us ears to hear. Let our hearts not be hardened against You. Give us opportunity to speak Your Word, to our friends, neighbours, loved ones, for the days are evil. May Your gospel continue to be preached so that when Jesus returns His bride will be comprised of every nation, tribe, language and people, that He may receive the Glory due to His Name. Amen.