One of the phrases in the Bible that has always stood out to me is “the fear of the Lord.” The word “fear” pretty much has one meaning in English, but in this context, it’s not about being afraid of God. It’s the fear of separation from God or of separation from Him. There are plenty of examples from the Bible of people who knew God, but were more afraid of what people thought than of their relationship with Him. Cain knew God. He made choices that showed he wanted God’s blessings without having God’s presence in his life. Samson was empowered by God, but made choices to where he didn’t even know God’s spirit had left him. We cannot treat God’s presence in our life casually. We must honor it and give it the weight it deserves. The fear of the Lord brings blessings because it’s puts God first in our life.
Here are some Bible verses on the fear of the Lord:
1. Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the land.
Psalms 25:12-13 NLT
2. And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require of you? He requires only that you fear the Lord your God, and live in a way that pleases him, and love him and serve him with all your heart and soul.
Deuteronomy 10:12 NLT
3. The [reverent] fear of the Lord [that leads to obedience and worship] is a fountain of life, So that one may avoid the snares of death.
Proverbs 14:27 AMP
4. Fear of the Lord leads to life, bringing security and protection from harm.
Proverbs 19:23 NLT
5. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 9:10 NKJV
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This was such a meaningful reflection on the fear of the Lord. I appreciate how you explained that it is not about being afraid of God, but about honoring His presence and putting Him first. It’s a powerful reminder that we can never separate God’s blessings from our relationship with Him. Thank you for sharing this wisdom and encouragement.
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You’re welcome. I think it’s one of the most misunderstood phrases in the Bible. When we fail to honor God’s presence in our lives, we easily fall into sin.
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Your post Chris, really speaks to me. Honoring God and his presence is of upmost importance. It is easy to drift from what is important and replace it with fleeting accolades, when we fail to value and honor God. It is valuing relationship with God instead of having a form of religion, and living for our fleshly appetites. Appreciate you and your insights that causes me to stop and think.
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Thanks for letting me know. I think you hit it on the head. So many fall into a form of religion and live for the fleshly appetites because they fail to fear the Lord. I’ve always liked the phrase, “It’s not a region, it’s a relationship.”
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It’s not religion, following rules in the flesh and full of pride, but relationship with Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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