Fear of God

Here is one of the most simple, yet most serious warnings found in the Bible: “God is opposed to the proud” (James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:5). The last thing we as God’s children should want is to dabble in the archetypal sin that was the initial cause of all the rebellion and corruption in the universe (Ezekiel 28:14-17). We are shown in God’s word that pride’s antithesis and remedy is the fear of the Lord (Romans 11:20; Jeremiah 44:10; Proverbs 8:13). For those who have repented of their sins and put their trust in Christ this fear is not the kind that dreads the punishment of hell (1 John 4:16-18). Instead, the fear of God that is considered a virtue in Scripture is a kind of humble awareness that our merciful Savior is also our omnipotent and omniscient Father—who will one day call us to give an account for our stewardship (1 Peter 1:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:10-11; Romans 14:12). Because the idea of “fear” doesn’t harmonize well with the popular misconceptions of a domesticated god, many dismiss this essential virtue and important safeguard, thinking that it couldn’t possibly coexist with their quest to love God. But the truth is that “the friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him” (Psalm 25:14), and any true knowledge of God is impossible to attain without it (Proverbs 9:10). So let us fight the subtle temptations to arrogance, pride, and self-promotion by humbly drawing near to God as we learn the fear of the Lord.

For more sermons and devotionals on Fear of God, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org. 

Time

The Bible makes a sweeping and comprehensive point when we are rhetorically asked, “What do you have that you did not receive?” (1 Corinthians 4:7). Consider the magnitude of that question. Scripture goes on to definitively clarify that the Source and Purpose of all the things we tend to feel so possessive of is in fact Jesus Christ himself – “all things were created through him and for him” we are told (Colossians 1:16). That undoubtedly includes time itself. Yet few things feel more “ours” than “our time.” But in reality it is not ours at all. As thoughtful Christians have always been careful to point out, we have no ability to make or retain time. We are transient recipients and stewards of each day and every hour. When we irrationally believe that our evenings, weekends or the years of our life are our own to spend as we please, we operate under a false pretense that will one day be suddenly dispelled. Recall how much of Christ’s teaching instilled the principle of accountability and stewardship. “Now after a long time,” Jesus continued to impress on his hearers, “the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them” (Matthew 25:19). Our time must be seen as a divine gift. It is not ours to spend, it is his, lent to us to invest for his glory and the advancement of his kingdom. So be wise and “make the best use of the time” (Ephesians 5:16) knowing from whom it comes.

For more sermons and devotionals on Time, please go to the Focal Point Ministries website at www.focalpointministries.org.