When I was asked to write an article for our monthly newsletter, I planned to focus on our women's ministry. However, as I prayed for guidance, the Lord gently nudged me to share a topic that I once misunderstood but that has now transformed my understanding of God: the fear of God.

Throughout my childhood, I thought fearing God meant being afraid of Him and His wrath. Growing up around friends and neighbors who worshipped idols, I had witnessed how their "fear of gods" was rooted in superstition and the threat of punishment. This made me wonder if my

own “fear of God” was supposed to look the same. Having been taught that God is love (1 John 4:16) and inherently good and merciful, I often questioned why I should fear such a loving God. How can fear and love for God coexist? Wrestling with these questions over time has reshaped my understanding of fearing God and deepened my love and reverence for Him.

This personal struggle helped me to understand that learning to fear God is an important part of our spiritual growth. For believers, fearing God does not mean being afraid of Him or His power to bring eternal judgment. When the Bible refers to the "fear of the Lord" it means having a deep respect and awe for who God is and recognizing His holiness, His sovereignty, and His love. This kind of reverence draws us closer to Him. Unlike the fear of punishment which produces anxiety, this holy fear produces peace and a desire to obey and honor Him. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” This verse emphasizes that wisdom starts when we respect and honor God through our thoughts and actions.

Over time, as I continued to study the scriptures, my perspective shifted. I came to realize that the fear of God is not optional but foundational to growing our relationship with Him. Without this reverence, we may have intellectual knowledge about God, but such knowledge cannot

transform us into Christ-like people. Isaiah 29:13 reminds us, “These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me,” illustrating that mere outward knowledge without genuine reverence does not please God. James 2:19b states,

“Even the demons believe and shudder!” This verse highlights that while demons acknowledge and fear God, their fear lacks love and trust. Therefore, true fear of God is a reverent respect that grows out of our love and desire to know Him better.

The Bible offers many examples that illustrate what it means to have a healthy fear of God. Job, for instance, endured immense suffering yet refused to accuse God, recognizing His sovereignty. This illustrates that fearing God means trusting Him even when His ways are beyond our understanding. Similarly, Joseph, when tempted in Egypt, said in Genesis 39:9 “How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?” His fear of God gave him the strength to resist sin because he valued God’s honor and his relationship with Him above temporary pleasure.

Finally, with these examples as our guide, let us always remember that our God is a good and gracious God, not wanting anyone to be eternally separated from Him. It is my prayer that, as you read this article, we as the Horeb family would cultivate this holy fear of God, allowing it to

guide our choices, lead us to repentance, and enable us to live a God-fearing and God-honoring life.

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