Fortune of Fear

Today's devotion from the book Consolation

by Chas. E Cowman

"We all started somewhere at some point in our journey as a believer'

was my dad's reply a few months ago when I asked him to pray

for someone who, as yet, has not taken the first step of faith.

How often since then, those words have encouraged me not to give up

in lifting my loved ones to God in prayer,

whether it is for the first, sacred, genuine step of confessing that we are a sinner

and need Jesus as our Saviour, 

or in the ups and downs that follow repentance and belief.

On Sunday, the pastor closed his message with encouragement,

reminding us the Christian life is a course of ups and downs,

feeling near to God on some days and on others days

wondering why He doesn't feel so near.

He encouraged us to cling to the truth of a changeless God,

who, no matter how we feel steadfastly abides with us,

So then, he reminded us to abide in the Vine so we may live a fruitful life

for apart from Him we can do nothing.

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me,

and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Proverbs 3:7:

"Be not wise in your own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil"

Matt.10:28

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.

Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

Heb.10:31

It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

It is impossible to truly love or follow God until we truly fear Him;

Until He who loved us so much He gave His Son/himself

to break the curse of sin, so all who believe

will never perish but have everlasting life...

 until this Holy God confounds our utter thought

as we try to fathom His love, mercy and holiness

we will fail to live the Christian life.

As our reverence/fear for God grows,

so grows our love.

Ps.103:11

For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

 (read the whole glorious chapter of Ps.103 HERE)

Lord let not faith be warped by sight

Nor trust, by understanding

But let the fear of Thee delight

My will with Thy commanding

And let devotion not be swayed

By ups and downs of living

Lord, keep my want-prone wonder stayed

Beneath Thy cross, life-giving

And woo me, not with worldly creed

Or fortune's vain ovation/persuasion 

But, help me pay more earnest heed

To Thee, Rock of salvation

That I may gain a heart of love

Of wisdom's priceless treasure

And grow in grace and knowledge of

Thee, one true God, forever

Amen

Janet Martin

Ps.62:2

He only is my rock and my salvation;

 He is my defense; 

I shall not be greatly moved.

Rock of Ages

Bat Not Thine Eye Lash at Thy Guilt...or, Earnest Plea

Reading through the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah kindles

much sober reflection and speechless awe

for the sure judgment and the abounding love and mercy of God

Bat not thine eye lash at thy guilt

Brush not at sin, like lint on sleeves

Shrug not thy shoulders at blood spilt

To save everyone who believes

Rush not, bold-faced, into the day

Without reckoning He who grants

The morn its light; bow down and pray

For temptation’s deliverance

Mock not, nor take in vain the Name

Above all names; but chastely fear

The One, whereby prophets proclaim

‘Look up, redemption draweth near’

Let not imagination rule

In rebel disobedience

Refuse the logic of the fool

Approach today with reverence

Lest, poorly and blindly content

With pomp and show of Noble Thought

Thy deathless soul reaps hell’s lament/torment

Because God called but ‘you would not’

The gods of this world cannot hear

Thy futile prayers when troubles groan

Fall on thy knees, repent, revere

The God of gods and God alone

Do not deceive thyself, but pray

For faith, to tremble at His Word

For love, devoted to obey

He whose decrees are undeterred

Bat not thy eye at the grave rift

Each soul must ford ‘neath death’s cold knife

Repent, believe, receive God’s gift

Forgiveness and eternal life

© Janet Martin

1 John 1:9

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins 

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Fear Versus Love...or, both?!!

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?

Job 28:28

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

The Fear of God-Charles Stanley

"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.

Proverbs 3:7

Be not wise in your own eyes;

fear the LORD and turn away from evil.

Proverbs 8:13

To fear the LORD is to hate evil;

I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.

Proverbs 14:26-27

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.

Proverbs 16:6

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

Psalm 111:10

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding.

Luke 1:50

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!

Proverbs 1:7

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.