All through the Old Testament we read about God’s people struggling to choose between fearing God and fearing gods. If you study some of the names of these false gods, you will find that they are often associated with the fear of war, destruction, disease,
or other life-ending events. People often worshiped or gave their attention and affection to these gods because they feared what they would do to them. The only power these gods had was the power of agreement with man’s fear. Man tried to appease them to get
in their good graces. It was a self-preserving and desperate way to protect them from their fears coming to pass. Man was created to believe, but not in this way.
Fearing God is an entirely different thing. In Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the definition of fearing God is:
to reverence; to have a reverential awe; to venerate (to have great respect). It does not involve life-ending death at all.
I choose to give God my attention, affection and devotion because of who
He is and what He’s done for me, not in fear of something He will do to me. The fear of God draws me to Him; I don’t want to be without Him. I want His life and love always.
The age-old fear of false gods is a fear of what could happen to you, resulting in death. It is giving focus to fear. There is no good in it. Giving ourselves to anything other than God is less than He created us to be. A preoccupation with death robs us of
our God-given reason to live.
1 Chronicles 16:25 says: “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.”
We are to fear God in reverential praise and worship. This comes from a choice to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and the working of our hearts in His hands. We can’t help but praise Him! With our eyes on Him, they are off the fears that had so much of our
attention.
Make a clear choice. Choose the life-saving and life-giving love and lordship of God. He will cover you in His love and empower you to release your fears to Him. In exchange, He will give you His life. This will bring you the peace you’ve always wanted. It’s
the only choice for a beloved child of God.
or other life-ending events. People often worshiped or gave their attention and affection to these gods because they feared what they would do to them. The only power these gods had was the power of agreement with man’s fear. Man tried to appease them to get
in their good graces. It was a self-preserving and desperate way to protect them from their fears coming to pass. Man was created to believe, but not in this way.
Fearing God is an entirely different thing. In Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the definition of fearing God is:
to reverence; to have a reverential awe; to venerate (to have great respect). It does not involve life-ending death at all.
I choose to give God my attention, affection and devotion because of who
He is and what He’s done for me, not in fear of something He will do to me. The fear of God draws me to Him; I don’t want to be without Him. I want His life and love always.
The age-old fear of false gods is a fear of what could happen to you, resulting in death. It is giving focus to fear. There is no good in it. Giving ourselves to anything other than God is less than He created us to be. A preoccupation with death robs us of
our God-given reason to live.
1 Chronicles 16:25 says: “For the Lord is great and greatly to be praised;
He is also to be feared above all gods.”
We are to fear God in reverential praise and worship. This comes from a choice to accept Jesus as Lord and Savior, and the working of our hearts in His hands. We can’t help but praise Him! With our eyes on Him, they are off the fears that had so much of our
attention.
Make a clear choice. Choose the life-saving and life-giving love and lordship of God. He will cover you in His love and empower you to release your fears to Him. In exchange, He will give you His life. This will bring you the peace you’ve always wanted. It’s
the only choice for a beloved child of God.
