Have you the fear of the Lord?
Proverbs 1:23, 29, 31
23 “If you will turn and pay attention to my rebuke,
Behold, I [Wisdom] will pour out my spirit on you;
I will make my words known to you.
29 Because they hated knowledge
And did not choose the fear of the Lord [that is, obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect],
31“Therefore they shall eat of the fruit of their own [wicked] way
And be satiated with [the penalty of] their own devices.
Psalms 19:9
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether.
Matthew Henry Concise commentary
Solomon, having showed how dangerous it is to hearken to the temptations of Satan, here declares how dangerous it is not to hearken to the calls of God. Christ himself is Wisdom, is Wisdoms. Three sorts of persons are here called by Him: 1. Simple ones. Sinners are fond of their simple notions of good and evil, their simple prejudices against the ways of God, and flatter themselves in their wickedness. 2. Scorners. Proud, jovial people, that make a jest of every thing. Scoffers at religion, that run down every thing sacred and serious. 3. Fools. Those are the worst of fools that hate to be taught, and have a rooted dislike to serious godliness. The precept is plain; Turn you at my reproof. We do not make a right use of reproofs, if we do not turn from evil to that which is good. The promises are very encouraging. Men cannot turn by any power of their own; but God answers, Behold, I will pour out my Spirit unto you. Special grace is needful to sincere conversion. But that grace shall never be denied to any who seek it. The love of Christ, and the promises mingled with his reproofs, surely should have the attention of every one. It may well be asked, how long men mean to proceed in such a perilous path, when the uncertainty of life and the consequences of dying without Christ are considered? Now sinners live at ease, and set sorrow at defiance; but their calamity will come. Now God is ready to hear their prayers; but then they shall cry in vain. Are we yet despisers of wisdom? Let us hearken diligently, and obey the Lord Jesus, that we may enjoy peace of conscience and confidence in God; be free from evil, in life, in death, and for ever.
Miyagi’s Commentary
Have you ever been to a church where there is always alot of laughter because the pastor is so funny? That type of church seems more like a comedy club than a house of God. Isn’t the church supposed to be a place of worship unto our Lord Jesus? And shouldn’t church be a place to foster a sense of conviction and a change of heart for those in need of repentance? Where is the fear of the Lord?
As verse 29 states, the fear of the Lord is “obeying Him with reverence and awe-filled respect.” WE are to be seeking holiness, not happiness. In society today, people are very occupied with “feeling good.” Sin feels good, very good and that is why people don't want to stop, but sin is what nailed Jesus on the cross. And some of the things that make people feel good such as food, alcohol, drugs, sex, power, recognition and the like... becomes an addiction to many. When self is on the throne, one goes after the things that pleases the flesh, such as food, alcohol, sex, drugs, power, recognition...and the like. But when Jesus Christ is on the throne, one goes after the things that pleases the Lord such as cultivating a worshipful heart, a joyful spirit, compassion on the least one of these, a love for God’s word...and the like.
Do you have the fear of the Lord? Do you obey Jesus with reverence and awe-filled respect? Why do you go to church? To worship God or to socialize with friends. Is your first allegiance to Jesus or to the senior pastor of your church? God showed me a while back that some pastors do not want Jesus to return soon. This is so because they are enjoying their position and power in the church way too much. They don’t want it to end. If Jesus returns, it is over for them. So I got to thinking… if the pastor of the church has this kind of mindset, then who is the congregation really bowing to? When a pastor is basking in all this power and glory, he becomes a “god” to the people. The people hang on his every word. They praise the pastor. They give him all their time and attention. They kiss the ground that he walks on. All of this should be directed and given to the Lord Jesus Christ…. because Jesus is King, period. Jesus died for you and me. He paid the horrible price on the cross. He came to set us free. Shouldn’t Jesus Christ deserve all the attention, affection and love from us?
When we love anyone or anything more than Jesus, we are committing idolatry. The pastor is there to lead the people to God, not to himself. So be careful where you place your love and affection. Make sure it is Jesus Christ whom you worship, and not man.
If Jesus is your God, then worship Him.
If the pastor is your god, then worship him.
Who is your God?
Let us begin this new year cultivating the fear of the Lord…. amen?
Miyagi
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