When raising children we sometimes refer to the term 'healthy fear'
aka respect for mom and dad's expectations and rules!!
Sometimes dire consequence for disobedience are needed to refresh
'healthy fear'!
this pleasant moment below was followed up a few hours later by a text...
'please pray for me'
as she grappled with challenges of mothering and disciplining...
How often our Heavenly Father also parents/disciplines His children
as we learn to listen/obey...
Today's poem touches on
an inexhaustible topic, 'the fear of the Lord, no fear in love, fear not...'
summed up in one verse...
Eccles. 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:
Fear God, and keep his commandments:
for this is the whole duty of man.
Job 28:20
“From where then does wisdom come?
And where is the place of understanding?
And He said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord,
that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"
***
Where is true wisdom Lord,
And righteousness and peace?
How can we know the way to go?
Where does blessing increase?
And where does love begin?
And how is it defined?
How can we purge want’s tainted urge
From heart and soul and mind?
…to seek the things we ought
Ah, where do we begin?
To walk the way we ought, today
Equipped to withstand sin
Oh Lord, forgive my sin
Your kind mercy renew
Open faith’s eyes to recognize
The holiness of You
Then Lord, increase my fear
So blessing may increase
The blessing of goodness and love
And righteousness and peace
Through humble reverence
Refine devotion’s claim
So we may shine with light divine
To glorify Thy name
To know the difference
Twixt fear of God and man
And to pursue with purpose true
The Master of love’s plan
© Janet Martin
"when you turn your back on God you're turning your back on your only hope,
the One who loves you, cares for you and wants the best for you, but
He will not make you follow Him,
not make you love Him,
not make you obey Him..."
Excerpt from above message
Below, a-skimming-the-surface of scriptures on the fearing/loving God...
Deut.13:4
You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him,
and keep His commandments and obey His voice;
you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the LORD and turn away from evil.
To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And His children will have a place of refuge.
The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life
, to depart from the snares of death.
By mercy and truth iniquity is purged:
and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
As a father pities (has compassion on) his children,
So the LORD pities those who fear Him.
Ps.103:13
But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting
On those who fear Him,
And His righteousness to children’s children,
Ps.103:17
The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true, being altogether righteous.
Psalm 19:9
The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and he delivers them.
Psalm 34:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Prov.9:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding.
His mercy extends to those who fear Him,
from generation to generation.
Luke 23:40
But the other criminal rebuked him.
“Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence?
Lu 12:5
But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear:
Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell;
yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Ac 9:31
Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria,
and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord,
and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied.
2Co 5:11
Therefore knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men,
but we are made manifest to God;
and I hope that we are made manifest also in your consciences.
Eph 5:21
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
His praise endures forever!
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
Mal.3:16
Then those who feared the LORD spoke to one another,
And the LORD listened and heard them;
So a book of remembrance was written before Him
For those who fear the LORD
And who meditate on His name.
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