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Lord, Give Us God-Fearing People

Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles

If we’ve ever stood on the side of a cliff and peered over the edge, there’s a funny feeling we get in the pit of our stomach that is a natural reaction to the danger of heights and falling. It is called “fear.” However, there is a different kind of fear that we should consider. Moses once said to Israel, “Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you may not sin” (Exodus 20:20).” A reverential fear of God is the first moving influence to bring one to an understanding of God (Proverbs 1:7; cf. Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without this kind of godly fear (reverence, awe and respect), no man will ever see God (Hebrews 12:28; cf. Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

David said, “The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him….” (Psalm 25:14 ASV; the word “secret” is used in the KJV). Normally, we do not associate “fear” and “friendship” but when we understand what is meant by God’s “friendship” we can see the correlation. The word “friendship” in this passage literally means “intimate consultation or counsel.” Similarly, when Jesus said, “You are My friends, if you do whatever I command you” (John 15:14), He was addressing how man truly becomes friends with God. It is not a “buddy-buddy” relationship such as we might have with our earthly friends. Rather, it is a relationship extended to us which stems from our respect and love for God. It necessarily involves our willingness to submit to the will of our awesome God (Matthew 7:21).

We’re told in the book of Acts, that Cornelius was not only a man who “feared God,” but whose house feared God as well (Acts 10:2). He must have taught them and demonstrated by his life proper reverence for God. The phrase, “God-fearing people,” describe those people who are sincerely seeking God (Acts 10:1-2; Acts 10:22).

Suppose we sat down at our favorite restaurant and the waiter brought us a plate filled with stinking, rotting garbage. How would we react to that situation? I’m certain that we would be outraged and repulsed. Similarly, how do we react when the movie screen sets a meal before our mind acts of fornication, cursing and lasciviousness? Folks, if we eat it up, does it not say something about our fear of the Lord and our true appetites? We can so gradually adjust to sin that it is no longer repulsive — we no longer see sin as God sees sin (Ephesians 4:17-19; 1 Timothy 4:1-2; cf. Habakkuk 1:13 ESV; Psalm 5:5-6 ESV).

On the other hand, God-fearing people see sin as God sees it. Sin grieves God (Genesis 6:5-6). He hates lying (Psalm 119:163) and every false way (Psalm 119:104). Not only does God “hate” some things, but they are abominable to Him as well (Proverbs 6:16-19). God-fearing people are never sympathetic to sin nor are they willing to compromise with it. Look at the pathetic picture painted by the Psalmist of those who did not fear God (Psalm 14:1-4; Psalm 52:1-5). Why were their tongues deceitful and full of cursing? Why was destruction and misery in their ways? Why did they shed innocent blood? Simply because there was no fear of the Lord.

In our praying, let us pray, “Lord, give us God-fearing people.