Fear the Lord in reverence, not anxiety of retribution.

~ Lisa Blair

I attended Sunday Bible School and Vacation Bible School like so many reading this post. As a teen and young adult, I attended Sunday service and Bible Study. The Word seemed so demanding during that period of my life, which caused hesitancy. I could find no sense of Free Will. Our Lord seemed to allow no breath of discovery. I felt He was saying, fear me or else. I only knew one fear and that was carnal fear. The Online Dictionary defines it as, a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, leading to anxiety, and that is what I felt when the Word said, ‘fear the Lord’. I was instructed to fear the Lord. So, while I loved the Lord, I also hesitated for fear of retribution if I did not get it right.

I believe that all too often we share the Word but do not define the importance of the words (in the scriptures) to our youth or new believers. We leave to much to the imagination, our carnal perspective. Biblical terms often do not mean what we think they mean. They represent a heavenly perspective. They represent a different truth. They define a relationship like none other, yet left to the untrained mind, we suffer setbacks because the Word can seem harsh. The Word is love. Let’s share that love by explaining, or defining terms as God has defined them. When those around us understand the terms, they open their minds and are eager to learn more about our Salvation and relationship with the Lord, our Savior.

The daily message below is a good explanation of what it means to fear the Lord and follow him. It is a great message to share with youth and new believers.

Online Bible Dictionaries: Biblestudytools.com, kingjamesbibledictionary.com, Biblegateway.com, Biblehub.com, biblestudylight.org.

App: The Bible Dictionary app

Photo: LAB PHOTOS

Devotional Message: Southwest Church, Palm Desert, CA.