GRACE & FEAR
Chad Sloan
Today's Scripture: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.” James 1:14, ESV
Theme: When we lose our fear and reverence of God, we focus on pleasing ourselves instead of Him.
WAKE UP CALL
Recently during a devotional series with my family, I was convicted by the Holy Spirit that I didn’t fully grasp the Fear of God and its significance in my life. As long as I can remember I knew that the Fear of God was not simply being scared of God. However, after that basic fact my understanding tapered off, I never prioritized looking deeply into this concept.
Even now I don’t claim to have a full grasp of the Fear of God. Yet, through reading scripture, I have become convinced that as important as it is to understand, accept, and walk in God’s grace -- it is equally important to understand and develop a holy fear of the Lord.
HEALTHY DOSE OF FEAR
Over the years, I have found that it is easier to celebrate the goodness, mercy and forgiveness of God than it is to seek to please Him with our lives. We may think that since God’s grace abounds, we are free to follow our own desires doing as we please while disregarding the Holy Spirit’s nudging and becoming caught up in sin. Godly fear of the Lord encompasses a desire to please God and a fear of having to live without His presence. Sadly, after being saved many Christians give little thought to growing spiritually beyond church attendance. But as Paul says: “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1, NKJV)
Clearly, perfecting our holiness through fear of God is more important than whatever is on our personal agenda. Paul says as children of God we have the promises of God living in and with us (2 Corinthians 7:1) so let’s live our lives with a healthy fear of God’s ways and submit to His will for our lives.
FEAR AND TREMBLING
Paul also says that we are to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12, ESV) so that God can do His will in and through our lives. Fear of God helps us to grow spiritually. It makes us more dependent on Him for our daily needs and desires. We seek to live each moment as He would have us live, to become closer to Him and remain within His presence.
Make It Personal: What are your priorities today? Are you trying to fulfill your own desires and needs or God’s? Have you included the Creator of the universe in your decision making? Ask God today how He may want to adjust your priorities and open yourself up to following His lead.
Pray: God, Creator of all things, please give me a healthy fear and reverence for You and Your will for my life. I give You everything- my will, my desires my plans and my day today. I submit my selfish desire to follow my own plan. I want to worship You in spirit and in truth. Help me to do the will of my Heavenly Father! Please show me what Your will is for me today.
Read: 2 Corinthians 6:11-7:1; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 12:28
Weekly Memory Verse: “No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:6, ESV