Proverbs 16

Proverbs 16.

6 "By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for,
and by the fear of the LORD one  turns away from evil.”

The last portion, "by the fear of The Lord one turns from evil" is almost extinct in the cultural arena in which we live. God has been expelled from our schools, eradicated from our universities and denied access in our politics. His name is used in vulgar ways and the media mocks Him, as well as those who speak of their faith in Him! On our money is printed "In God we trust," yet our children cannot invoke His name at football games. Monuments and buildings throughout our nations's capital were adorned with Scripture and engraved prayer, yet He is no longer welcomed, no longer revered.

I wonder how He must feel. How would you feel if those to whom you gave so much to, protected by divine intervention and blessed beyond measure were to raise their voices in demonic hatred against you? How would you feel if you had watched your only child suffer at the hands of the very ones He had healed, helped and set free? And how would you feel if you saw those same people drive nails through your child's hands and feet, nailing Him to a cross?

It is a good thing I am not God! I can never repay what He has done for me. I can never be good enough to deserve one moment of His love, but what I can do is to live in reverent fear that I do not take for granted the sacrifice He made for me! With what can the Tempter offer that can compare to the unmerited, undeserved love He has bestowed upon me? I do fear The Lord!  I fear hurting Him. I fear bringing shame to His Name by choosing actions that cause others to doubt His existence! And I fear as The Apostle Paul declared, "I keep my body under submission lest while I preach to others, I myself become a castaway!"

"The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" Little godly fear is a good thing! Give God something to bless, give Him the deep reverent fear that He deserves-after all, we must all stand before Him and give an account!  Be be leased and be a blessing!

Rev. John Watford
Lead Pastor
nbcornerstone.com