Fear: Reverence vs Afraid

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” - 2 Timothy 1:7

Fear is defined as “an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat.” Fear is something that comes to you when you feel unstable in a situation. Fear is a spirit that gives the devil control over your life. The devil has no power, but if he can give you a good enough reason to agree with fear, he now can dictate your choices. You seeing bad now allows him to create bad in your life, by using you. The devil gives us ideas to destroy ourselves, using ourselves. We have the power to destroy, he does not. God did not give us fear. God did not create us and then start seeing ways he can keep us sad, unhappy, scared, angry, and he certainly didn’t create us for us to experience death. God’s will for us is stated in Jeremiah 29:11, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” God has love for us. The devil has jealousy and hate towards us. Before the Great flood, God looked at man and saw so much wickedness, people were doing as they pleased and were hurting each other. He put a limit on those people. He said that man should be limited to 120 years of life. If they can’t find him in that time frame, they never will. But he did find favor in Noah. He saw good, he saw hope, he saw a future. So of all the world, 8 people were spared after the flood. But evil continued to grow. We must live where God finds favor in us. Jesus is begging for us every day. We must find the wisdom to live like Jesus. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  So there is the fear word again. God tells us not to fear yet fearing is the beginning of wisdom. But let me explain. Reread the definition of fear. Do you feel any love when you read that? God loves us and he wants us to love him back. So the fear defined here does not have anything to do with God. Leviticus 19:30 says, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire." Worship God with reverence and awe. Reverence is defined as “deep respect for someone or something.” Let me ask you this. Would you walk into your neighbor’s house, change the thermostat, move furniture around to your liking, and make a sandwich before plopping down on the sofa? The “fear” that keeps you from doing that is actually respect. It’s not your house. You don’t make the rules. And you respect your neighbor’s ways in his home. This world is not ours. It’s Gods. He made the rules to keep it going and growing with love. And peace. And happiness. It’s a place with choices. You can choose God and that leads to life! Respect and love God. Respect all he does for us. Respect his love for us. Matthew 3:17 says, “And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’” We know what actions please God. Jesus. Let’s live just like Jesus so God can be pleased with us. Let God find favor with you. And help others do the same.