Blessed to Fear the LORD

"Blessed is every one who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways."

Psalm 128:1

There are plenty of things in the world which can move us to fear.  These rational and sometimes irrational fears often spring from negligence to consider God, His promises and power.  People who believe in the existence of spirits seek to placate or protect themselves against them.  Charms, amulets and crystals can be utilised in superstitious occultic practices to wield power to benefit the user by warding off evil, attracting wealth or emanate "good" energy.  In the world people's practices and beliefs differ, but fear is a common enemy we all face (or try to avoid!) in various ways and degrees of success.

I watched a comedic foreign film where one character was a eastern religious stereotype who did everything he could to placate deities for personal benefit.  Though he didn't receive any measurable benefits from his religious habits and piety, he imagined the key to success in education and life was by paying homage to idols and wearing trinkets for good luck.  In a nutshell, the character in the film was scared to death of failing out of school and returning home in shame.  He needed to commit his life and future to something greater than himself.  With his confidence placed in traditions of men, he always lacked assurance he gained the favour of the gods.  It would be a shame if Christians who know and serve the living God give place to fear when our God lives, speaks, helps and comforts us.

The one who fears the LORD and walks in His ways is blessed, and nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.  The devil and demons have no power to strip us of our blessed Father or of all His great benefits offered us.  A child of God ought to fear God but not the devil, for God's power is infinitely greater.  Fear can prompt us to seek help and comfort, like when a child hears a strange sound in the dark.  The little one runs to their mum or dad for safety, scared by what they heard, thought they saw or imagined was there.  The fear of God attracts us to God rather than repelling us, for we know He is stronger, wiser and capable than we are.  It is good for the sheep of God's pasture to run to Him, not because they are afraid of the wolves that howl nearby, but because they fear the Good Shepherd who loves, protects and provides for them.

A vast majority of fears we give place to are in the realm of the imaginary, what might or could be.  Compared to the goodness and power of God to deliver and save, all fearful things might as well be imaginary.  Who can compare with the greatness of God?  What danger exists that can separate the child of God from the Father's love?  What can man, sickness or spirit do to us without God's guiding, limiting, redeeming hand?  Having established God is love and we abide in Him, 1 John 4:17-19 says, "Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us."  If we are made complete in God's love, fear of man and what might happen is expelled from our hearts.  The one who fears God walks in His ways, and the love of God casts out all fear.