"Lord, Give Us God-Fearing People!"

If we've ever stood on the side of a cliff and peered over the edge, there's a funny feeling we get in the pit of our stomach that is a natural reaction to the danger of heights and falling. It's called "fear." However, there is a different kind of fear that we should consider. Moses once said to Israel, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that you many not sin" (Exodus 20:20).

A reverential fear of God is the first moving influence to bring us to an understanding of God (Proverbs 1;7; cf. Psalm 111:10; Ecclesiastes 12:13). Without this kind of godly fear (reverence, awe and respect), no man will ever see God (Hebrews 12:28; cf. Hebrews 12:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1).

David said, "The friendship of Jehovah is with them that fear him....." (Psalm 25:14 ASV). Normally, we do not associate "fear" with "friendship," but when we understand what is meant by God's "friendship," we can see the correlation. The word "friendship" in this passage literally means "intimate consultation or counsel." Similarly, when Jesus said, "You are My friends, if you do whatever I command you" (John 15:14), He was addressing how man truly becomes friends with God.

This friendship is not a "buddy-buddy" relationship, such as we might have with our earthly friends. Rather, it is a relationship extended to us which stems from our respect and love for God. It necessarily involves our willingness to submit to the will of our awesome God (Matthew 7:21). The phrase, "God-fearing people," describe those people who are sincerely seeking after God (Acts 10:1-2,22).

God-fearing people see sin as God sees sin (Habakkuk 1:13; Psalm 5:5-6 ESV). God hates lying (Psalm 119:163 ESV) and every false way (Psalm 119:104 ESV). Not only does God hate some things, but they are abominable to Him as well (Proverbs 6:16-19 ESV). God-fearing people are never sympathetic to sin, nor are they willing to compromise with it. Look at the pathetic picture painted by the Psalmist of those who did not fear God (Psalm 14:1-4; Psalm 52:1-5). Why were their tongues deceitful and full of cursing? Why was destruction and misery in their ways? Why did they shed innocent blood? Simply because there was no fear of the Lord in them.

Dear reader, in our praying, let us pray, "Lord, give us God-fearing people!"

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets