"What Does it Mean to Fear?"
- Rita Larson
- Sep 25, 2023
- 3 min read
The fear of the Lord is a phrase that appears throughout the Bible, and Proverbs 8:13 brings its meaning into sharp focus. It reads, "The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate." According to this scripture, the more we respect and fear God, the more we will hate evil. The “fear” in this scripture is not about abject terror, however. It is about an understanding of the consequences of our actions. We are to respect and submit to God, knowing that our sins will be punished if left unforgiven. Through Jesus Christ, however, we are forgiven of our sins and can commit ourselves fully to God.
The fear of the Lord is not something to be dreaded, but rather, it is an acknowledgment of God’s power and authority. We respect and submit to God because we understand the sacrifice He made for us to be forgiven and the power and authority He holds. God’s love for us is unconditional, and there is nothing we can do to separate us from His love for us. However, we need to understand that love for God and love for sin cannot coexist. Harboring secret sins means that you are tolerating evil. Pastor Steve Bellavia shared with us one Sunday that "what you tolerate, you will not cast out." We have to lay down our sin in order to pick up the cross.
The fear of the Lord is akin to the relationship we have with our natural parents and can help us understand the importance of respect and submission. When we love our natural fathers, we want to make them proud and respect their authority. Similarly, when we love our Heavenly Father, we want to make Him proud and respect His authority. We should commit to serving and being obedient to Him, as we know He only wants what is best for us.
Kenneth Hagin once said, “God is not interested in mere lip service. He looks for sincere hearts that will not only believe what He says but also be willing to obey Him.” Knowing the word of God and applying the word of God are two very different things. We can memorize scripture and know the bible inside and out, but if we are not applying it, it is totally useless. In fact, God sees that as a sin. James 4:17 reads "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
The Bible also provides a number of other scriptures that speak of the importance of fearing the Lord. Psalm 34:11 says, “Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord.” Romans 11:20 adds, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” Colossians 3:22 tells us, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord.” These scriptures highlight the importance of understanding and respecting God’s will for us, and submitting ourselves to His authority.
The fear of the Lord is a powerful and important part of our relationship with God. It is not about abject terror or panic, but rather a submissive, respectful honor that is rooted in our understanding of the consequences of our actions and the magnitude of the sacrifice Jesus made for our sins to be forgiven. When we cast out the sin in our lives, refusing to tolerate it any longer, that is when we can fully commit ourselves completely to Him and demonstrate our gratitude for His unconditional love. Remember, what you tolerate you will not cast out! ©Rita Larson 9/25/2023
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