But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. 1 Samuel 12:24 NLT
When you live a life of faith you will hear people say that you must fear God. This confuses many because they don’t understand why they need to be afraid of God. In your personal lives, if you fear someone, you are afraid of that person. But, to fear God, does not mean that you must be afraid of him. So what does it mean to fear God?
Well, the Amplified Translation gives some clarity with that verse. It says, “Only fear the Lord [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.” So fearing God means you need to have respect and reverence for Him. When you fear God, it changes you from the inside out.
When Jesus was on the cross, he was hung between two thieves. One thief joined the crowd and ridiculed Him saying, “So you’re the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself—and us, too, while you’re at it!”Luke 23:39.This man was being punished for his crime yet he had time to behave disrespectfully. In his selfish mind, he was trying to manipulate Jesus to do his bidding because he didn’t want to die on the cross on that day.
The other thief had a different response; he said ““Don’t you fear God even when you have been sentenced to die? We deserve to die for our crimes, but this man hasn’t done anything wrong.” This man took an honest look at his life and was willing to accept the consequences of his actions. He looked at Jesus and saw His divinity. As a result, he spoke to him differently. He said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.” And he was rewarded because Jesus responded to his request, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise.” Today, you need to fear God and serve Him faithfully. Like the thief on the cross, you will see change in you circumstances as you consider the great things He has done for you.
Thought for Today: Friend, in everything you do, fear God.
Have a blessed day and walk in faith and victory.
Victory Walk 