“Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing.”
– Psalm 34:9
"Fear of the LORD" is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "fear not" and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear." It means more than "hold God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the LORD" means that we remember our place in the order of things.
We know we are deeply loved by our holy Father in heaven. We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace. We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, he in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isiah 57:15)
Hungry?
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." - John 6:35
Hunger is a powerful motivator. When human beings get hungry enough, they will do almost anything to acquire food. What if we were that hungry for God? What if we were that hungry for God's bread, his Son Jesus? While we have learned to recognize our physical hunger, so many today cannot identify that empty spot in their souls and the ache in their hearts as hunger for God.
Only God, through his Son Jesus, can truly fill this empty spot and relieve that ache. Jesus is the one who quenches our spiritual thirst and satisfies our spiritual hunger. Come to him. Listen to him. Let his words and his love give you life!
Thoughts
"The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond." - Phillips Brooks
"There is not a heart but has its moments of longing, yearning for something better; nobler; holier than it knows now." - Henry Ward Beecher
[Message No: 6364]
– Psalm 34:9
"Fear of the LORD" is one of the great themes of the Old Testament. The phrase is particularly hard to translate, especially in light of the repeated message of the Bible to "fear not" and John's reminder that "perfect love casts out all fear." It means more than "hold God in reverence." Generally, "fear of the LORD" means that we remember our place in the order of things.
We know we are deeply loved by our holy Father in heaven. We recognize that we are weak and sinful in comparison and are saved by God's mercy and grace. We acknowledge that his majesty and holiness are far beyond us and that we pale in significance before God. We come to God acknowledging our need for him and our unworthiness to demand anything from him. The incredible reality is that when we approach God with this sense of awe and profound respect, he in turn welcomes us with open arms and brings us close. (See Isiah 57:15)
Hungry?
Jesus replied, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." - John 6:35
Hunger is a powerful motivator. When human beings get hungry enough, they will do almost anything to acquire food. What if we were that hungry for God? What if we were that hungry for God's bread, his Son Jesus? While we have learned to recognize our physical hunger, so many today cannot identify that empty spot in their souls and the ache in their hearts as hunger for God.
Only God, through his Son Jesus, can truly fill this empty spot and relieve that ache. Jesus is the one who quenches our spiritual thirst and satisfies our spiritual hunger. Come to him. Listen to him. Let his words and his love give you life!
Thoughts
"The Bible is like a telescope. If a man looks through his telescope, then he sees worlds beyond; but if he looks at his telescope, then he does not see anything but that. The Bible is a thing to be looked through, to see that which is beyond." - Phillips Brooks
"There is not a heart but has its moments of longing, yearning for something better; nobler; holier than it knows now." - Henry Ward Beecher
[Message No: 6364]
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