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Just a quick recap of a few things shared in the last couple of weeks. We learnt that the fear of God means to reverence God, acknowledge His sovereignty over our lives, obeying His commands, and doing what is right and pleasing in His sight. We learnt also that the fear of God in this context differs from fear of punishment, danger or harm. The fear of God is a profound sense of awe and respect for God’s power, holiness, wisdom, and His personality. It is also important to know that there are blessings attached to the fear of God. “For the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding” (Psalm 111:10); “The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death” (Proverbs 14:27); “The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him (Psalms 25:24); and many more. Hallelujah!

Now, the question remains: How do we develop the fear of God as an integral part of our lives such that God could point to Satan and say, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil” (Job 1:8). What can we learn from the life of Job? Job was a man that shunned evil. If you are to be considered as a servant of God that fears God, then evil or wickedness must be far from your life. You must love what God loves, and hate what God hates. God loves righteousness; He hates iniquity. “For righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). No one gets established or promoted by God for being wicked. “In righteousness you shall be established” (Isaiah 54:14). Why? “For you have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows” (Hebrews 1:9). The Bible declares in Psalms 34:21, “Evil shall slay the wicked: and those that hate the righteous shall be desolate.”

A man or woman that wants the fear of God to be rooted in their hearts must also develop deep hunger and thirst for God. The Psalmist said, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God” (Psalm 42:1-2). Do you love and adore God as a Father? Does your soul thirst and hunger after God? “For blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6). If you truly love and pant after God, then you will fear Him and obey His commandments. Jesus said to His disciples in John 14:15, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” Loving God is an act. You don’t love God by telling Him how much you love Him. Your love for God is not measured by your sweet words to Him; it is measured by your obedience to His commands. In doing what is pleasing to God, you actually declare your loyalty, reverence and fear towards Him. This bring glory to His holy name, and you become a peculiar treasure unto Him (1 Peter 2:7-12).

“Then the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah and the name of the other Puah; and he said, “When you do the duties of a midwife for the Hebrew women, and see them on the birthstools, if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live. But the midwives feared God, and did not do as the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the male children alive” (Exodus 1:15-17). If you read further in this chapter, you will find that these Hebrew midwives became a peculiar treasure unto God. They dared Pharaoh because they placed the fear of God above the fear of man (Daniel 3:12-30). And God blessed them indeed. Listen, our walk with God is a journey of faith. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). “And let the word of God dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). As we daily enrich our souls with God’s word that produces faith in us, we provoke His grace that empowers us to do great exploits (Daniel 11:32). Speaking to the Elders of the church in Ephesus, Apostle said to them, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). I pray in the Name of Jesus that as we embrace God’s word and obey His commands in our lives, it will cause a deeper fellowship with Him, to honour and fear His Holy Name, thereby giving us the enabling grace to do greater works for His kingdom in Jesus Mighty Name (John 14:14). Hallelujah! Have a Blessed and Fantastic Week. With love, Elvis!