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Fear the Lord
What is the “fear of the Lord”?
Exodus 20:18-21 points out that the people stayed at a distance. Joshua 2:1-14 explains that for the enemies of God, their courage failed and hearts melted. What about Job? In the first chapter, we see how he regularly made offerings to God for his sons, recognizing “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” His “fear of the Lord” prompted him to pray for his children “just in case.” Does your lifestyle show a healthy fear of God?
How is it attained?
A healthy fear of the Lord starts with knowing who we are in relation to him, as Steven Curtis Chapman points out above.
Hunting for wisdom is a process of humble learning that lasts a lifetime. We will stumble along the way, and our actions will be inconsistent, but we are wise to regularly recalibrate for Christ.
As Proverbs 1:5 says, “Let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.” Wise and discerning people listen and learn. They listen to people around them and learn what to do and what not to do.
Above all, learn by submission to God and His Word. A humble life can be trusted with God’s wisdom and the Holy Spirit’s discernment. As you live a life of compassion and mercy, your knowledge will be converted to wisdom. Keep learning, and the Lord will lift you to new levels of influence. Stop learning, and you will sink into irrelevance. Learning expands your kingdom effectiveness and deepens your character.
Why is it wise to pray passionately for wisdom?
- To know God better (Ephesians 1:17 says, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.”)
- To live a life worthy of Christ (Colossians 1:9-10 put it this way, “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God.”)
- To obey God (James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”)
Knowledge without application results in lifeless pseudo spirituality.
Apply Your Heart to Understanding
Proverbs 2:2 exhorts, “Turn your ear to wisdom and apply your heart to understanding.” The Hebrew word for heart refers to the core of us where we think, feel, choose, and believe basic beliefs. It is often translated ‘mind,’ so we shouldn’t think of the heart just as the place of emotions.
Proverbs 2:4-5 instructs, “If you look for [wisdom] as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” The knowledge of God is obtained by the wisdom of God, and the wisdom of God is found in the Word of God.
Read the four Gospels and observe the knowledge of God lived out in your Lord Jesus Christ. You will learn obedience by understanding and applying His teachings.
The “blameless” in Proverbs 2:7 does not mean sinless, but a person of moral and spiritual integrity. God gives victory to those who walk in integrity!
May you recognize wisdom’s benefits, as you shoot for the stars!