To have fear of God is to recognize his majesty, his power and his holiness while making the decision to live a life pleasing to him. Whoever fears God chooses to obey him, submitting to him and repudiating sin. He does it out of love and out of respect for Almighty God.
The God-fearing person is reverent before him, seeks his direction at all times, and lives according to his will. The fear of God is not based on fear. It is based on the reverential respect that arises from the hearts of the children of God towards him.
And you did not receive a spirit that again enslaves you to fear, but the Spirit that adopts you as children and allows you to cry: “Abba! Father!”
(Romans 8:15)
Children respect their parents and accept their discipline because they know that they love them and that they want the best for them. God’s love is much greater and more perfect than the love of our earthly parents. The love we receive from God and the discipline of him, seek our eternal good and that we participate in his holiness.
In effect, our parents disciplined us for a short time, as they saw fit; but God does it for our good, so that we may share in his holiness.
(Hebrews 12:10)
God guides us with love, but also firmly because he knows what is best for us.
Deciding not to fear God has consequences. Just as we do not grab a knife by the edge, because we know that it will hurt and hurt us, we must also know that living our lives without fear of God will bring consequences that will reverberate throughout eternity.
On one occasion, Jesus was talking to his disciples about the coming persecution. He warned them that they themselves would suffer persecution, but told them that they need not fear those who seek to harm them because, at worst, they could only kill the body. However, there was someone they had to fear: God!
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy soul and body in hell.
(Matthew 10:28)
What did Jesus mean by those words? In a sense, Jesus warned them that the fear they might feel in the face of physical pain or death could not be greater than the fear of God’s judgment, of spending eternity in hell separated from him. Therefore, choosing well what or whom we fear or revere will have eternal repercussions. Let us fear only God!
True wisdom originates in the fear of the Lord
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;
Good judgment is shown by those who fulfill its precepts.
Your praise of him remains forever!
(Psalm 111:10)
If we want to live lives full of wisdom, making the right decisions and walking in the path of blessing, we must have the fear of the Lord. Fearing God implies recognizing him as the Creator, as the source of life and of everything that exists.
Recognizing the greatness of God and our dependence on him, we will take time to listen to his voice and receive his direction. As a consequence, our decisions will be wise, which will bring us joy and blessing.
The beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord;
Fools despise wisdom and teaching.
(Proverbs 1:7)
The fear of the Lord also helps us to discern between good and evil. If we fear God above all things, we will choose to put aside sin and everything that leads to it. We will always want to walk the path of good, counting on the company of the Lord.
And he said to mortals:
“Fear the Lord: that is wisdom!
Turn away from evil: that is discernment!”
(Job 28:28)
Who is the man that fears the Lord?
He will be instructed in the best of ways.
(Psalm 25:12)
God is worthy of our fear
Who will not fear you, King of nations?
You are worthy of being revered,
because there is no sage or king
who can compare to you.
(Jeremiah 10:7, Reina Valera Contemporánea version)
There is no one like our God! His greatness and his power are incomparable. He created everything we see out of nothing. He has been, is and will be for all eternity. There is no god or human comparable to him. That is why we must worship and serve him with fear.
Serve the Lord with fear;
with trembling give him praise.
(Psalm 2:11)
Blessings to those who fear the Lord
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
Blessed is he who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commandments.
His sons will dominate the country;
the offspring of the righteous will be blessed.
In his house there will be abundant riches,
and his righteousness will endure forever.
For the righteous the light shines in the darkness.
(Psalm 112:1-4)
The Bible mentions a series of blessings that will come to all who fear the Lord. Giving worship to God, living in obedience to his Word, and being reverent before him will result in good things for both the God-fearing person and his family.
Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
who walk in his ways.
What you earn with your hands, that you will eat;
You will enjoy happiness and prosperity.
Within your home,
your wife will be like a vine full of grapes;
Around your table,
your children will be like olive branches.
Such are the blessings
of those who fear the Lord.
(Psalm 128:1-4)
Fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
(Psalm 34:9)
God faithfully provides for those who fear him. He grants peace, strength and growth to those who serve him in fear.
Meanwhile, the church enjoyed peace as it consolidated throughout Judea, Galilee, and Samaria, living in the fear of the Lord. And it was growing in number, strengthened by the Holy Spirit.
(Acts 9:31)
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Proverbs 14:26-27
The fear of the Lord is a safe bastion that serves as a refuge for children.
The fear of the Lord is a source of life and distances man from the nets of death.
Deuteronomy 6:24
The Lord our God commanded us to fear him and obey these precepts so that we always do well and stay alive. And so it has been until today.
Deuteronomy 8:6
Keep the commandments of the Lord your God; Fear him and follow his ways.
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you? Simply that you fear him and walk in all his ways, that you love him and serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, and that you fulfill the commandments and precepts that he commands you to fulfill today, so that it goes well for you.
Psalm 147:11
The Lord does not delight in the strength of the horse,
nor is he pleased in the strength of man,
but he is pleased in those who fear him,
in those who trust in his great love.
Proverbs 8:13
Whoever fears the Lord hates evil;
I hate pride and arrogance,
misconduct and wicked language.
Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the Lord leads to life;
Gives a peaceful sleep and avoids trouble.
Revelation 15:4
Who will not fear you, O Lord?
Who will not glorify your name?
Only you are holy.
All nations will come
and worship you, because the works of your righteousness
have come to light.
Acts 10:34-35
Peter took the word and said: Now I understand that in reality for God there is no favouritism, but in every nation, he sees with pleasure those who fear him and act with justice.
2 Corinthians 7:1
Since we have these promises, dear brothers and sisters, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates the body and spirit, to complete in the fear of God the work of our sanctification.
1 Peter 2:17
Give everyone due respect: love the brothers, fear God, respect the king.
Hebrews 12:28-29
So let us who are receiving an unshakable kingdom be thankful. Inspired by this gratitude, let us worship God as he pleases, with reverent fear, because our “God is a consuming fire.”
Revelation 14:7
He cried out in a loud voice: “Fear God and give him glory because the hour of his judgment has come. Worship the one who made the sky, the earth, the sea and the springs.”
