Read Luke 12:4-7
FIRSTLY, we see that there are 2 TYPES OF FEAR the bible talks about! The word “fear” as used in Luke 12:4-5 is the Greek word “phobeo” and can either mean “to be afraid of” or “to reverence or treat with reverential obedience.”
What we shall see is that the type of “fear” the bible says we are meant to have for God as His children is more “REVERENCING/HONOURING” God rather than “BEING AFRAID”!
Luke 12:5-7 shows the difference between these 2 “fears”. In Luke 12:5, Jesus tells us to “fear” Him who has the power to throw us into hell. And yet just 2 verses later, the disciples were told not to be “afraid”, they are worth more than sparrows in God’s eyes!!
Being afraid/fearful of the Lord will often lead to a lack of obedience, just like the third servant in the parable of the talents in Matthew 25:24-25 who was given the one talent!
We also see this in Genesis 3:10, back in the garden of Eden at the FALL OF MAN, where, because of the fall, Adam hid from God in FEAR (being afraid)!!
Furthermore, the number of times in the bible that The Lord says to His children “DO NOT BE AFRAID” is striking and should give us comfort to know we do not need to be afraid!! (See Isaiah 41:9-10, Deuteronomy 31:8, Isaiah 41:13, Matthew 14:27, Luke 5:8-10)
1 John 4:18 tells us that GOD’S PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR, because FEAR (being afraid) has to do with punishment!!
This is the comforting hope we have as children of God, that we no longer have to be afraid of God and His punishment because of what our wonderful Saviour Jesus did for us on that cross!! He is the atoning sacrifice that takes away God’s wrath against us! (1 John 2:1-2)
The unbeliever who rejects Jesus however, should be afraid of God and His coming judgement (Eg. Revelation 6:15-17)
Thus, for the believer in Christ, the “FEAR” God may be calling us to have is a REVERENCE and AWE of Him that leads to OBEDIENCE. (Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Hebrews 12:28-29, Job 1:1, Psalm 112:1, 128:1) As stated previously, the Greek word for fear from Luke 12:5 can mean to show “reverential obedience” as one of its meanings!!
So one of the main ways we can revere/fear God is by OBEYING HIS WORD/COMMANDS!!
OTHER PASSAGES THAT MENTION WHAT THE FEAR OF GOD LOOKS LIKE:
-Proverbs 8:13 tells us that to fear the Lord is to HATE EVIL! (Job 1:1)
-Proverbs 16:6 takes this a step further and tells us that the fear of the Lord causes men to DEPART FROM EVIL!
-Psalm 112:1- The word fear is the Hebrew word “yare” which can mean to “revere and be in awe of” as one of its meanings. It is the same word used in Leviticus 19:3 when God says to “fear” your parents. It means to RESPECT, rather than to be afraid of.
According to Psalm 112:1, fearing the Lord is tied in with DELIGHTING IN HIS COMMANDS!
Psalm 128:1 takes this a step further and shows us that fearing the Lord is tied in with WALKING IN HIS WAYS! (Deuteronomy 10:12-13 also backs this up!!)
-In Mark 4:40-41, the disciples’ FEAR (being afraid) of the storm, turned to FEAR (reverence and awe) of Jesus when JESUS calmed the storm!!
-Malachi 1:6 reveals to us that we should RESPECT and HONOUR GOD as our Father.
-Proverbs 1:7- the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. (Proverbs 9:10)
-In Hebrews 12:28-29, we are told to worship God with REVERENCE and AWE!!
May we learn to truly REVERENCE GOD OUR HEAVENLY FATHER and obey Him, and take comfort in knowing that we DON’T NEED TO BE AFRAID OF HIM because His PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT ALL FEAR!! (1 John 4:18)
God bless!
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