Hello Village Bible Family,
Last week, I introduced the topic of fearing the Lord - reverently, in-awe, and with holy fear. Whatever your week looked like, I hope you were able to take time and prayerfully consider the question I asked: Do you rightly fear the Lord with reverence and awe?
This week, I want to draw upon more scripture to help us consider this topic.
Fear the Lord and Obey
If we are rightly fearing the Lord with reverence, awe, and holy fear, as scripture calls us to, then the result should be that we also desire to obey Him. Let us consider the words of Moses, to the Israelites, in Deuteronomy 10:
“So now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God ask from you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the commandments of Yahweh and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?” Deuteronomy 10:12-13 LSB
Yahweh’s desire for His people is summed up in the words “to fear… to walk… to love… to serve… to keep”. Both then and now, this is God’s command for all those who are His. When we rightly fear the Lord, our desire to obediently keep His commands and serve Him will come from a deep reverence and growing love for Him. Obedience is not optional.
Perhaps you are reading this and thinking “Pastor, isn’t that kind of legalistic to say that we have to obey? I thought we were saved by grace, not works?” To that, I say we are indeed saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, and not by works, yet I would also remind you of our Lord’s words:
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our dwelling with him.’ John 14:23 LSB
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” Matthew 7:21 LSB
‘But He said, “On the contrary, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”’ Luke 11:28 LSB
Brothers and sisters, love and obedience go together!
This week, my question for you is this: Do you fear and obey the Lord? Does your reverence for Yahweh lead you “to fear… to walk… to love… to serve… to keep”? Dear friend, if you are not growing in your desire to obey the Lord, I worry that you may not fear Him properly yet.
The author of Ecclesiastes sums it up well:
“...fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the end of the matter for all mankind.” Ecclesiastes 12:13 LSB
This Sunday, in obedience to the call to not forsake our own assembling together (Hebrews 10:25), we will gather to sing, pray, and hear God’s Word. Pastor John White will be continuing through the book of Exodus, covering the 3rd commandment (Exodus 20:7).
Lord willing, I will see you then.
In Christ,
Jon Collins, pastor
You can reach the elders anytime by email, call, or text at:
Jon Collins, jcollins@thevillagemi.com, (810) 869-3949
John White, jwhite@thevillagemi.com, (810) 275-4267