Daily devotion – the fear of the Lord
Act 2:43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.
As a result of their steadfast commitment to the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, communion, and prayer, there was a true fear of God in the hearts of the people.
The four elements of the Church in its early days were the Apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, communion, and prayer. These four elements are not as big a priority sadly in the Church today and with that there is a corresponding lack of the fear of God.
The prophet Isaiah wrote, Isa 44:24
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer,
And He who formed you from the womb:
“I am the LORD, who makes all things,
Who stretches out the heavens all alone,
Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself;
Knowing this we often hear people referring to God with less than endearing respect with terms such as, “the man upstairs.”
Proverbs 8:13 instructs us, “The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”
Here in lies the problem, because there is this growing tendency to compromise with evil in our day! If we could only see the consequences of evil, we would hate it.
When Dr Luke penned the book of Acts, there was a healthy fear of God among people. What was the result? Many signs and wonders were done by the Apostles.
In an environment of the fear of the Lord, reverence, awe, and a hatred for sin, the Spirit of God can work in a powerful way.
Each time we open God’s Word, or approach Him in prayer, or gather with other believers in Church, may our hearts always be reverent and in awe of the one true God!