Dear Church,
The fear of the Lord is a holy reverence for His presence; this is not some outdated Old Testament doctrine. It is the lifeblood of every true believer, the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10), and the evidence of a heart that truly loves God. If we truly love Him, we will also revere His holiness. Sadly, in our modern Christian culture, it’s become too common to speak of Jesus casually, as if He were merely a buddy or errand boy. Some even approach God with a flippant familiarity that ignores His majesty. But let’s not forget that even His closest disciples addressed Him with awe. Upon encountering the resurrected Christ, Thomas cried out, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). They didn’t take His presence lightly — they trembled at His glory.
This casual attitude can be seen not only in how we speak of Him but also in how we worship. It’s concerning when, during times of worship where God’s Spirit is moving, we see distractions. We must ask ourselves: Have we become so comfortable that we’ve forgotten who is in our midst?
1 Peter 1:15-17 offers a sobering reminder:
“But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy because I am holy.’ Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear.”
This is not a fear of punishment, but a holy respect, a deep awareness of God’s majesty, and a life shaped by that reality.
The New Testament consistently calls believers to reverent worship:
- Hebrews 12:28-29 urges us: “Let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”
- Philippians 2:12 says: “Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
- Even the angels in heaven never lose their awe; they continually cry, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty” (Revelation 4:8).
In our pursuit of being balanced and “normal,” we must remember, what the world calls normal, God often does not. We are not called to fit in but to stand apart, to live with an awareness that the Creator of heaven and earth is in our midst. Our attitudes, postures, and priorities should reflect this reality.
Let me say this with grace: God is merciful, and He draws near to us with kindness. But He is also holy, and He is still the Lord of glory, deserving of all honor and reverence. If we take His presence lightly, it may not be because He’s grown smaller, but because our vision of Him has.
Let us return to holy reverence, not out of legalism or fear of judgment, but because we’ve glimpsed His holiness and can do nothing less than bow in awe. Let us embrace it ourselves and teach this to our children.
May our love for God be deep enough to shape our reverence. May our worship reflect the weight of His glory. And may our lives be marked not by what’s common, but by what is consecrated.
Be Encouraged,
Mathews
