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.  

  

Fearing God from A to Z

H is for Honor

"You just wanted to improve your life," Jenny said as we sat at their kitchen table visiting.

  

"You've always been nice people," James, her husband, added.

My sister and I had just told our friends how God had changed our lives for the better. They, being intelligent, liberal thinkers, wanted to shrink our salvation stories down to mere self-improvement. They rationalized that our righteousness was a part of us, apart from God. 

We smiled at each other. My sister and I knew better and didn't want to take credit for the miracle God had performed in our lives. 

"No," she said. "Jesus is the one who changed us."

"He saved us from our sins, something no one else could do," I said. 

Awkward silence followed, then Jenny turned the conversation. "It's been unseasonally hot, don't you think?"  

Did our long time friends see reliance on Jesus as weakness or blind faith? In reality, spiritual blindness keeps people away from the Lord. Whatever their reason, they didn't give God the credit for helping us turn away from a life of futility to one that honored Him.

Not surprising. It's a human tendency, even among Christians. We give credit for someone's accomplishments to their outgoing personality. If a person does well financially, we may credit a connection to family money, a lucky break, or a supportive spouse. Sure, God uses our circumstances and other people, but He deserves all the recognition. 

It irritates me when others try to explain away blessings until there's nothing left to thank God for. Staying mindful that He is the One teaching and helping us live His wisdom reminds us to give Him the credit He deserves. 

Way back in the day, Abraham said he wouldn't accept even a sandal strap from a local king. He didn't want anyone to think they helped him succeed in life. Abraham had learned enough wisdom to give all honor for his position and possessions to God. (Genesis 14:23) Glorifying the Lord for all He is and all He does is the essence of fearing Him. 

"Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forver and ever. Amen." (1 Timothy 1:17).

Fearing God from A to Z

G is for Generous

The smell of warm chocolate filled the kitchen. I carefully lifted chocolate chip cookies from the baking sheet onto a plate. Ten seconds later my four-year-old granddaughter ran into the room with a question on her face. She didn't have to say a word. 

"Yes, you can have one but only one," I said smiling.

As I scooped dough onto the baking sheet, Lily took a cookie in each hand, which was unusual for her. 

"Didn't you hear me say only one?"

"Yes," she held out a cookie. "This one is for you." 

"Ahh, how thoughtful," I accepted her gift. "Thank you, sweetheart." 

Some children seem born on the considerate side, while the rest of us have to learn as we go. Still, we like giving things to others, especially the people  in our families. Jesus used that tendency to help us understand God's generosity. He said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those ask Him!" (Matthew 7:11)

In some ways the fear of God can be considered the imitation of the God. Psalm 112:9 says giving to the poor is one of the characteristics those who fear the Lord have in common with Him. Like Father, like child in everyday, visual ways. 

"A generous person devises generous things and by generosity he stands"

(Isaiah 32:8)  

I love the way some verses leave no room for misunderstanding. A lifestyle of generosity is clearly one of the things God likes to see in His children. Giving to others across our table, across the street, and across the ocean, shows we trust God to keep meeting our needs. 

The more I learn about fearing God, the more I see how practical it is. Our fear of Him can be heard in our prayers, praise, and thanksgiving. But it can also be seen in the simplicity of sharing. Even if it's just a cookie.