Good Fear

GOOD FEAR

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” - Proverbs 9:10

There are many who teach that fear is always bad. They say that it is important for people to overcome their fears. According to them, unresolved issues with fear brings an unhealthy balance to life.

I agree that there are unhealthy fears. Perhaps the most common unhealthy fear is our fear of others. Proverbs 29:25 says, “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” The fear of public speaking is a variation of this fear. Many people refuse to speak in front of others due to this fear. We resist witnessing to a friend or enter social dialogue with strangers because of our fear of man. Truly, it is a snare to us. It is a bad fear, an unhealthy fear that we need to be liberated from.

Not all fears are bad. I think it is good to have a healthy fear of electricity. Many have died from electrocution because they were careless about electricity and its dangers. While it may be good to have a healthy fear about dangerous situations, they shouldn't paralyze us to the extent of making us bedridden.

Yet there is one fear that most avoid, yet it is the most important fear of all. Proverbs 9:10 states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Fearing God is a good fear. Fearing God is not the summation of wisdom, just the beginning of wisdom. Unless a man fears God, he is not wise at all.

I used to think that fearing God was simply having a healthy respect of God. Certainly, fearing God includes this, but it goes far beyond that. When I was growing up, I loved my father. But I also feared him. I knew that if he caught me telling a lie, showing disrespect to others or misbehaving, I would face his discipline. I feared his discipline, so I feared him. Was this a bad fear? I don't think so. He disciplined me because of love.

In a similar manner, God is to be feared because of who He is. He often disciplines His children. His discipline can be rather painful and severe at times. Hebrews 11:6 says, “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.”

Many well-meaning Christians believe that we should love God, but never fear Him. They believe that fearing God is only an Old Testament teaching. Obviously, this is incorrect. In the New Testament, Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.”

Fearing God consists of more than just having a healthy respect and reverence of God. Look at what Jesus said in Matthew 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.” When we fear God, other fears pale in comparison.

To many, it is unthinkable that we should fear the Lord. Love Him, yes, but fear Him, no. Yet the Bible teaches us to fear the Lord. Both the Old and New Testaments teach us to fear God.

Our nation is undergoing moral and spiritual destruction right now. One of the reasons for our nation's indulgence in sin is that people do not fear God. I blame this, in part, on many people-pleasing, lukewarm preachers in America. There are preachers who refuse to preach against sin or warn against hell. They may be popular among people, but refusing to warn others of impending judgment is a dereliction of duty. As a result of such weak preaching, many do not fear the Lord.

Furthermore, we must accept responsibility for our own failure to speak the truth about these matters. Are we trying to make God popular, hip, cool and relevant to people, or are we attempting to please Him by boldly sharing the facts? When a watchman is derelict in his duties by failing to warn the people of an approaching army, God held the watchman responsible for the blood of the people. Today, believers are serving in such a capacity. You are a watchman on the wall. I am a watchman. Do we care enough for the people and fear God enough to warn them of the judgment to come?

Yes, unbelievers need to fear God. Unless they repent, they will face His wrath. Yet believers need to fear God as well. A healthy fear of God will cause us to be more circumspect in our living. If we fear God as we should, we will live holy lives. We will live humble, committed lives.

Here's the inescapable truth. All of us must stand before God one day. His judgment will be true and final. If you feel cocky about judgment day, you aren't ready for it. If you think you will arrogantly strut into His presence, you are in for a surprise. The One who sits on the throne is holy and righteous. We should reverence Him. Respect Him. Fear Him.

That is a good fear.

Are You Grateful?

 ARE YOU GRATEFUL?

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” - 1Thessalonians 5:18

Most of us don't appreciate what we have until we lose it all. We tend to overlook the tiny details of life, not knowing that the tiny details add up to much more than we realize.

Take your health, for instance. If you're like me, you have good days and bad days. Yet our worst days could be dramatically worse … and we don't even consider it. We take our eye sight for granted, until the doctor says we have quick-spreading glaucoma. We don't think much about our hearing until we have an inner ear infection. We take our taste for granted until Covid robs us of our taste. Something as simple as rising from a chair seems to be a small task, until you are confined to a wheel chair. I have found that health is a gift that can quickly be taken away. Yet we tend to take it for granted.

Our tendency is to grumble and complain. Things aren't perfect and never will be this side of heaven. We will have our aches and pains. People will disappoint us. Life can be very unfair. We can feel abandoned and alone at times. There is always something we can complain about. For this reason, the Bible often reminds us to give thanks.

Writing to the Thessalonians, Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Notice the wording of this verse: “In EVERY thing give thanks,” (emphasis added). It is one thing to give thanks sporadically, but do we give things for every thing?

As Christians, we love to use the word, “grace.” Grace is God's unmerited favor. Grace is God's mercy and blessings that we don't deserve. Since we don't deserve any blessings, we'd have to classify every blessing as being a love gift from the Father. James put it this way, “Every good and every perfect gift cometh down from the Father of lights...” Every blessing, every good thing, is a gift of love from the Father. We are recipients of overwhelming grace every day. But are we grateful for this grace?

Paul wrote, “In every thing give thanks.” Does that mean we should be thankful even during the bad days? Yep. But it is easier said than done, isn't it?

If we are honest, we'd have to confess that the challenges and problems of life have taught us more about walking with God than anything else. Pain and sorrow have a way of driving us to our knees and drawing us close to God. We learn and grow through the obstacles we face. The greatest fruit grows in the valley and not on the mountain-top. Aren't these things to be grateful for?

Also, we fail to thank God for getting us through the bad days. All of our pain and problems are temporary. Do we show gratitude for God's faithfulness during these difficult times? Do we praise Him for delivering us from them? The bad days also show us how blessed we are when the good days come. Yes, we have reason to give thanks even for the rough times.

We should be grateful every day. Here are three things we should do to express our appreciation to God.

SAY IT

First of all, we need to thank the Lord for His blessings. Gratitude should be expressed verbally. A grateful person is not ashamed to say “thank you.” Have you thanked the Lord for anything today?

SHOW IT

Secondly, we should show our appreciation through our conduct. Gratitude should prompt us to love Him fully, obey Him explicitly and adore Him reverently.

SHARE IT

Finally, we should share our gratitude with others. When was the last time you told someone about God's blessings? Have you ever given God credit for the good things in your life? Do people know you to be a grateful person? Be transparent about your gratitude. God has blessed you liberally, don't be stingy with your gratitude.

When we go through a rough time in life, we are tempted to throw a pity party. We can easily feel sorry for ourselves. Yet a visit to a nursing home or the corridors of a hospital can quickly put everything into proper perspective.

The late evangelist Bill Stafford is noted for saying, “Everything above hell is grace.” I have been a recipient of God's abounding grace. Let me testify that God has been good to me. I can never repay Him for all He has done. Every morning His mercies are new. Each day I get deeper in debt to Him because His blessings continue to flow in my life. I have everlasting life because He died for me. He is worthy of my life.

What about you? Are you grateful?

Beautiful Feet

 BEAUTIFUL FEET

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” - Isaiah 52:7

I'm glad that I wear shoes in public. I have ugly feet. While shoes provide stability and comfort to my feet, they also keep my feet from being a public spectacle. After shattering my ankle in 2003, I had to undergo therapy to regain mobility in my ankle. I pitied the physical therapist that had to work with my right foot. I'll spare you the details, but she should have received combat pay for what she endured.

I am like most Americans. I don't give much attention to my feet unless I have problems with them. While I wash my feet like everyone else, I don't spend much time thinking about them. You probably don't either. If we're honest about it, our feet tend to get dirty often. They may have an odor that is embarrassing.

Yet Isaiah 52:7 talks about beautiful feet: “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” Why are these feet so beautiful?

Obviously, television, radio and the internet didn't exist in Biblical times. Newspapers were not in circulation either. Instead, news traveled by means of a messenger. News traveled by foot. It would be great to be a runner who had good news to share!

We have a message to share with a dying world. It is good news. It is the news of everlasting life, available through Jesus Christ. To perishing souls, this is the news they so desperately need to hear. It needs to be shared across this globe. But it also needs to be shared across the street. When God opens the minds of people to understand the good news, it is like giving cool water to a thirsty man. When someone drinks of the living water, it changes them. They have joy in their souls. They are happy in the Lord. They celebrate the event and even thank the person who shared the good news with them.

In foreign lands, missionaries will carry this news to unreached people groups. Upon receiving the news, some of these new converts actually kiss the feet of the missionaries. The feet that had traveled so far just to share this message was honored with a symbol of their gratitude.

So if the Lord directs your feet to visit a neighbor, a relative or even a stranger and they hear the Gospel from your mouth and receive it by faith, they will praise the Lord for such a great salvation. They may also thank the Lord for the beautiful feet that came their way so they could hear the truth.

Paul instructed believers to put on the whole armor of God. Notice that you are to have, “... your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace” (Ephesians 6:15). We are to be prepared for battle, with the very Gospel that changes lives. Because of the Gospel, our feet will walk the right path. Our feet will go to rescue souls from the enemy's camp. Our feet will march forward in triumph because of the Gospel.

Our feet are led by the Gospel, prepared by the Gospel and used for the spread of the Gospel. Some will even consider them to be beautiful feet.

Yet there is something even greater.

When Jesus cast the demons out of the wild man of the Gadarenes, the residents came and found the new convert in his right mind sitting at the feet of Jesus. When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, Martha was busy preparing the meal, but Mary sat at His feet and heard His word. A sinner woman kissed the feet of Jesus, washing His feet with her tears and wiping them with her hair. Many came to Him, falling at His feet, seeking His aid or simply worshiping Him.

It was His feet that walked to meet the needs of many. His feet walked the shores of Galilee, spreading the Good News. It was His feet that walked up to Calvary. It was His feet that were nailed to the cross.

One day we will see Him face to face. At His feet we will fall in worship. At His feet we will cast our crowns and rewards. There are no feet like His.

Truly, the feet of Jesus are beautiful feet.

The Coast Is Clear

 THE COAST IS CLEAR

“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” - Psalm 118:8

Four times, the Bible says, “Now the just shall live by faith.” At our church, we still sing the old song, “Living By Faith.” As I get older, that song means much more to me. But are we living by faith?

The writer of the book of Hebrews described faith this way: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” After giving us a description of faith, the writer goes on to give us examples of faith, all from the Old Testament. As you carefully read Hebrews chapter 11, you can't help but get inspired by the many men & women mentioned in the chapter.

But where are the saints who are living by faith today? Are you among them?

Faith is simply trusting God. Faith is dependence on God. Faith is taking God at His Word. Faith is relying on the Lord.

Every person on the planet has faith. The difference is the object of faith. Just because a person claims to be “a person of faith,” doesn't mean that his or her faith is in Jesus. I've seen movies classified as “Faith-Based” movies, yet never mention God. Some are even based on teachings of a cult. The object of our faith is critical.

The psalmist put it this way: “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” In spite of this basic truth, so many trust in politicians, musicians and actors. Many more trust in their own ability and ingenuity. Proverbs 3:5 teaches us, “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Faith is simply trusting God.

A while back, I was driving my mother to town. When we got to the bottom of the mountain, I could easily see the traffic coming my way. From the driver's seat, it is more challenging to view the traffic from the opposite position. Mom offered to check for traffic coming her way. When she said, “the coast is clear,” I took off without even looking back at what she saw. I took her at her word. I trusted what she said. I put our lives on the line, depending on the accuracy of what she said. That is acting with faith.

Why did I have such faith is what my mother told me? Well, first of all, she is my mother. She loves me. Can't we have the same kind of faith in God because He loves us? God loves me even more than my mother.

Also, I can trust Mom's word because she has proven herself to be trustworthy. She has a track record of being honest. Yet, can't we take God at His Word? Isn't He honest? Hasn't He proved Himself to be truthful all the time?

Third, my mother has a reputation of telling me what I need to hear, not just what I want to hear. If she had told me that a car was coming, it wouldn't be what I wanted to hear, but it would be what I needed to hear. God is the same way with us. His Word encourages us at times. At other times, His word convicts us. He cares enough to tell us what we need to hear, not merely what we want to hear.

Finally, I can trust my mother's word because, if she is wrong, she will suffer the most by the misinformation. It is true that an accident would total my car, but my mother would be sitting at the very point of impact. She would suffer the most if she didn't tell me the truth. When God makes a promise, His credibility is on the line. His integrity is in question. If He lies, misrepresents the truth or misinforms us, His impeccable character would receive irreversible damage. In fact, He would fail to be God because He would violate the very essence of His deity.

I figure you're like me. If a family member is riding in your car when you're driving and tells you the coast is clear, you proceed without verifying the accuracy of their word. You trust them. You believe in them. You act with faith based upon information provided by a reliable source.

Living by faith is simply that. We act upon information provided by a reliable source, God Himself. Since He cannot lie, we can proceed without worrying whether He will back up His promise or not. We can go forward without visible evidence simply because of what He tells us.

At times, God's Word warns us. At other times, we are corrected. Still, there are times we are told that the coast is clear and advised to proceed. In any case, we know His Word is reliable. Our eternal future hinges on it.

If you can trust Him with life beyond the grave, can't you trust Him with today? Can't you rely on Him when times get tough? He is trustworthy all the time.

Soon each one of us must face death. From a human perspective, death is a dark, lonely, dreary & uncertain time. Yet if our faith is in Jesus, we can proceed with confidence in Him. He will welcome us on the other side. So proceed.

The coast is clear.

The Importance of One

THE IMPORTANCE OF ONE

“How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?” - Matthew 18:12

We are taught that there is strength in numbers. Whether it is the number of players on a football team or the number of soldiers in an army, we tend to think that large numbers of people are important. We even think this way at church. We feel like the larger the crowd, the better. We celebrate “numerical success.” We shop at Sam's Club, buying items in bulk because there is a price discount if we purchase an item in large quantities.

Let's think about the number, “one.” While large numbers tend to be notable, we tend to think that there is nothing special about just one. One is too small a number for most of us. We may reluctantly settle for one car, but we'd prefer to have two. We may have just one bank account, but we'd prefer to be rich enough to have accounts in numerous banks. We prefer quantities much higher than one.

Yet there is importance in one. I was born in the small town of Mullens, WV. Just a few years ago, Mullens had a mayoral election in which the victorious candidate won by just one vote. Yes, one vote does matter, doesn't it?

One person is insignificant for most politicians and leaders. Yet God cares about each of us, as individuals. One is a significant number to Him.

God called one man, Abraham, to be the father of many nations. He took one son, Joseph, and uniquely used him to save the Israelite tribe. He called one man, Moses, to lead the Israelite exodus from Egypt. He used one king, David, to make Israel a strong nation. He used one queen, Esther, to save the Jews from the evil hand of Haman.

He took one tiny town, Bethlehem, and chose it to be the site of the coming Messiah. He took one twelve-year old child, Jesus, to confound the elite religious rulers.

He used one man, John the Baptist, to bring a prophetic message that would introduce the ministry of Jesus to the world. This one man, John, would be the one that what have the honor of baptizing Jesus.

Yes, one person can be important. When Jesus cleansed ten lepers, only one came back to give the Lord thanks. Jesus took the lunch of one boy and fed five thousand. Only one lady would wash the feet of Jesus with her tears and would be remembered in the canon of Scripture for this act of devotion and love.

God provided one Messiah. He sent us His one and only Son. Jesus came to earth, God in the flesh, to ransom lost souls. God provided one Savior. There is just one mediator between God and man and His name is Jesus.

This Savior lived one solitary life here on earth. By His own testimony, we know that He is the one and only way to the Father. Through His shed blood, sinners become saints. The lost are found. His enemies become His friends. Only one man could do that.

God sent His one and only Son so that we may be saved. One soul matters to Him. If a famous evangelist conducts an evangelistic service to a packed stadium, the crusade would be considered a massive failure if only one person responded to the Gospel invitation. Yet if that one person truly got saved, it mattered to God. The Bible says that there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels over one who repents. One person matters.

The Good Shepherd leaves the ninety-nine sheep in search of one sheep that went astray. The woman cleans her house in search of one lost coin. A father looks for the return of one prodigal son. Yes, one person matters to God.

I write this to encourage you, my Christian friend. Your efforts are not in vain. God can take one person like you and use you in ways that will astonish you. Only in heaven will you know the full impact God has made through your life. You may be limited on resources, but your Father is not. You may have limited talents, but God can still use you. Perhaps you have a limited education, but God has placed His wisdom at your disposal. Don't underestimate what God can do with a surrendered life. Be that surrendered person today. God and one person makes a majority.

Perhaps you are not a follower of Jesus. My final words are for you. You matter to God. Although millions may come to Jesus in a single day, each one is saved on an individual basis. You may feel like an outsider --- one who beholds the good things of God, but never feasts at His table. God invites you to come and dine. Consider this to be your personalized invitation to dine with the Master. Call on the Lord right now in repentance and faith. He will not turn any way who approach Him by faith.

No, not one.