Fearing God from A to Z

K is for Knowledge

The pomegranate provides one of the healthiest juices we can drink. It prevents heart disease and many types of cancer.  For the last decade, experts have been saying pomegranante juice lowers LDL levels, reduces inflammation and is even low glycemic to help the millions of people who are dangerously close to becoming diabetic. This revelation came after years of extensive, scientific research.Thank God for research or should we just thank God for pomegranates? 

People spend millions of dollars attaining university degrees of all degrees. Then the 5% who enter their field of study, pour their knowledge into a career that hopefully helps others benefit from it. In certain fields of research, some go on to discover nutritional treasures such as the pomegranate and all its benefits.   

Scripture calls the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). It also says God's people are destroyed for lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). So fear of God must mean listening to Him. And why not? He knows everything.

Take pomegranates for instance. God made them and always knew their nutritional value. That's why He added them to a wise list of foods long ago: 
"The Lord your God is bringing you into a good land of brooks of water...
wheat and barley, vines, fig trees, pomegranantes, olive oil, and honey." 
(See Deuteronomy 8:7,8)

So the land wasn't just flowing with milk and honey.  It also offered foods that have come to light in recent years as cutting edge discoveries by educated men and women holding doctorates. And just think...this list of excellent food choices has been nestled in the Penatuch for thousands of years. 

Imagine all the knowledge we stumble through life without, simply because we don't listen to the One who knows everything. A growing fear of God changes that as surely as it changes us.

Fearing God from A to Z

J is for Joy

My mom and two sisters left yesterday after a week long visit to our house near the coast. Today, I feel like I should still be racing around serving guests in my own, inept way. It's like when you take off a pair of roller skates and put your shoes back on. Your feet feel like they should still be on wheels, making each step awkward.   

The mere thought of company coming instantly shows me all the housework I've been neglecting. This time I worked on cleaning every room. I even painted the bathroom. Though I've learned the hard way that I can't achieve perfect, I wanted everything to be as nice as possible. 

I cleaned, shopped, cooked, and reminded myself to breathe. But as always, my to do list outstretched the time I had to work at it. For instance, I forgot items when I shopped for their visit. Make a list? I did, but misplaced it on my way to the store. When they pulled in the driveway, the weeds, webs, and dusty windows greeted my guests along with me.   

In view of such short comings, what should our main goal be when entertaining company?  

Scripture says we serve God by serving others. He also encourages us to serve Him with joy and a glad heart for the abundance of all things (Deut. 28:47). Visitors bring us the chance to share our joy in the Lord with them. Authentic joy reflects gratitude for our blessings from God. He loves to see us rejoice, even if the kitchen floor stills needs replaced. Even though the dogs bark and beg, and the top of the fridge wears a six month coat of dust. 

The fear of the Lord, a verb phrase, includes all the colorful, joyful ways we express His Word. Next time company drops in, we can rejoice! Not in a house well-cleaned, or a meal well-cooked, but in a God-honoring visit well-shared. 

Fearing God from A to Z

I is for Interaction

Back in the 80's, the hearts of two pastors stirred for the lost and starving people of India. One pastor lived in Boise, Idaho, the other in Bangalore, India. The one from India traveled to Boise and stepped into a church to pray. He soon learned that the Idaho pastor of that church was in Bangalore praying for guidance too. 

God brought them together and helped them far exceed all they hoped to accomplish. By His grace, these two pastors and the Christians who pray and support their work, have built many orphanages, homes for children with aids, and raised up pastor's to start churches in the slums. Excellent fruit continues to grow from their interaction with God and one another. (see sendhopenow.org)   

Some of us, having been Christians for years, have become like islands. We live for ourselves and families, rarely venturing beyond the edge of our concerns. Yes, we care, but the needs of humanity are too great. Remember the starfish example? So many abandoned on shore by a wave. No one could save them all. Likewise the poor children. We can't feed and lead them all. So we do nothing. 

The fear of the Lord calls us to interact with others, to get involved in God's work on this planet. He delights to see us participate in the body of Christ and help those in need (Psalm 112:9) He invites us to pray and listen. Then, as He did for those two pastors, God will reveal His plan for us one step at a time.

No Christian is an island from God's viewpoint. If we're living like one, estranged from His interactive will, we can pray to live more in the fear of Him. It's not an esoteric concept studied only by senior pastors and theology students. The fear of God is as practical as rice and beans. And as powerful as His righteousness and blessings.