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January 2 - January 4, 2025
Obey God even when you don’t see a personal benefit.
On the other hand, it’s dangerous to be motivated by incentives. Why? If the benefit isn’t obvious, will we have the same resolve to obey God’s instructions? Most likely it will be swallowed up by personal interests. This is why the fear of the Lord is so crucial; it motivates obedience, whether a reward is obvious or not.
Or perhaps we learn that someone slandered us. There’s no obvious benefit to forgive, seek reconciliation, and bless this person, but we choose to do so strictly out of obedience to the command to “[forgive] one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” and to “bless those who curse you” (Ephesians 4:32; Luke 6:28 NKJV).
For God called you to do good, even if it means suffering, just as Christ suffered for you.
The fear of the Lord is what arms us to maintain a deep resolve to obey God, even in the face of adversity.
However, what’s behind insecurity is our desire to be accepted, loved, or respected, even at the price of disobedience.
We lack the realization of how deeply accepted and loved we are by our Creator. Insecurity needs to be called out for what it is: a dangerous trap.
Our conscience is a gift from God that should never be taken lightly. It’s an integral part of our heart; its sensitivity is strengthened by holy fear and, conversely, dulled by the lack thereof. We are warned: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life” (Proverbs 4:23).
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge. (Proverbs 1:7 NKJV)
The lady at the pool proclaimed a different Jesus, the Corinthians served a different Jesus, and Israel followed a different Almighty God. Are we seeing a pattern? It’s possible for us to create a deity with the given name of Jesus and yet not know the actual Jesus at the right hand of God.
He chose . . . to suffer for the sake of Christ [rather] than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward. (Hebrews 11:25–26)
I choose to be one who can be trusted by my Lord Jesus.
Often people interpret Scripture through the lens of experience—either their own or others—rather than allowing Scripture to shape their experience.
James writes, “When you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong” (James 4:3). Again, we have to look at our motives, and the fear of the Lord is what keeps our motives in check.
“I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better” (Philippians 1:20–21).
Years ago, while I was on the road ministering, God spoke to me when I was fearful for my children. He said, “John, any fear in your life only identifies what you haven’t put under the cross; you still own that area of your life.”
Any unbeneficial fear in your life only identifies what you haven’t put under the cross; you still own that area of your life.
True humility and holy fear are connected. You will never find someone who fears God who is not truly humble, nor will you find anyone who is truly humble who doesn’t fear God.
There is a huge difference between covetousness and possessing wealth to impact lives.
Please don’t misunderstand. If someone is poor, does it mean they lack the fear of God? No! Scripture is loaded with men and women who didn’t possess material wealth. Did it make them less godly? Absolutely not! True wealth is not measured in money or possessions but in our ability to help others.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the LORD will be greatly praised. (Proverbs 31:30)
You’ll deeply love people and deeply hate the sin that unmakes them.
Stop and think this through. Here is this glorious Creator we call Father, whom even the universe cannot contain. He can measure the universe with the span of His hand, yet He is so detailed in His design of the tiny earth and the creatures who roam it that it leaves modern science with many unanswered questions after years of study.
