Patsy Lambert #fundie newberryobserver.com
Fear is a twofold word
The Bible says "Fear not, for I am with thee. Genesis 26:24. But the Bible also says Fear the Lord. Fear is a twofold word. One kind of fear is being afraid, we all are afraid from time to time.
The fear of the Lord is not to be afraid of Him. This kind of fear is to treat God with respect and trust . We reverence God for who He is, What He has done, what He is doing, and what He is going to do.
If we truly fear God with our whole heart, then we have nothing to fear.
"And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul." Deuteronomy 10:12.
God doesn't want us to be afraid of Him. He loves us and He wants our love in return.
The fear of God means that reverence for God which leads to obedience when we realize His power.
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10.