Fear God, Not Man

The fear of the LORD leads to life, so that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil. PROVERBS 19:23

There are few things in life sweeter than lying down in bed after a long, hard day and sinking into a dreamless, uninterrupted, eight-hour sleep. No one enjoys this kind of rest on more of a regular basis than those who have learned to reverence God and practice His presence in their lives. The Bible repeatedly teaches that the fear of God turns us away from evil and from the fear of man.

Non-negotiable Number Two: Fear God, Not Man

Fearing God means we reverence Him. We set Him apart and live our lives under His watchful eyes. To be sure, He is the God of love, but He is also the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come! He is a righteous Judge who should be feared. You and I are accountable to Him for the life we live and choices we make.

Do you fear men more than God? Are you preoccupied with what people think about you? Are you living your life for the grandstands of heaven or Earth? Only the fear of God is able to deliver you from the fear of man.

It was A. W. Tozer who said, "What you think about God is the most important thing you think." Knowing God—really knowing Him and who He is—calibrates all of life. He is the ultimate measurement because He is in control.

When we see God as Creator, Maker, Redeemer, Judge, Consuming Fire, Sovereign King and the One who knows all things, we begin to practice His presence in our lives.

He is God. He is holy. And as fervently as He is to be loved, He should also be fiercely feared. He is worthy of it. And we are in need of fearing Him.

DISCUSS

Who do you fear more: man or God? Share with one another your understanding of who God is and how that understanding impacts your life daily.

PRAY

Ask God to teach you to fear Him.