As I was looking at the new year I found myself wondering about a verse for the year. With all the panic going on in the media and government I felt like we needed to be reminded about the call to not live in craven fear. It might be well to remember that fear gets both positive and negative press in the Bible. In reality there are two very different meanings.
The conclusion is that we are to have a hierarchy in our fear. The proper fear is a foundation for a successful life. I fear electricity. I fear wasps. I fear a lot of things, and so I should. If they are not treated with respect they can damage or kill. That kind of fear does not keep me from turning on the lights, going out side or many other things because the fear I have teaches me respect and control.
Thus our lives begin with fear, the fear of the Lord. The book of Proverbs keeps repeating that phrase starting with,
(Pro 1:7 KJV) The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.and goes to,
(Pro 23:17 KJV) Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.I will let you do your own research. The best known products of the fear of the Lord: Wisdom, knowledge, understanding. It goes beyond that.
But there is another verse that I want to focus on this year.
(2Ti 1:7 KJV) For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.A little comparison might be in order to get the depth here. Look at the NASB,
(2Ti 1:7 NAS77) For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.Notice that fear can be read as being timid. Notice that a sound mind has the idea of discipline.
Those are good strengths for me to cultivate this year.
Grace and peace.
homo unius libri
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