Living Fearlessly

I think we may have lost our fear of God, and so we fail to do what is right, and do what we want instead.

Then Peter began to speak to them:"I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. - Acts 10:34-35

In today's reading, Peter puts it plainly, that God finds all acceptable to Him, if they fear Him and do what is right.

I wonder, would you do what is right if you have no fear of God?

I think the problem stems from a common redefinition of the fear of God.  Today it means something else, something that makes God out to be gentle and non-threatening.  It is more like the fear of hurting God's feelings.

And since God is loving and forgiving, we don't even worry too much about that either.  So, we live without fear of reprisal.  There will be no punishment for anything we do.

That is so different from how I was taught.  We were raised on fear.  It was considered healthy.

There are still many things I fear from foreign rulers with nuclear weapons to crazy drivers, but I will admit, I don't live in fear of God and what He will do to me.

And I'm not sure that is a good thing.

Fear can be an excellent motivator.  It can keep me on the right path, and make me think twice.

But for some reason, it isn't working as well as it used to.

So, what do we do about it?  Is it possible to go back to fearing God, now that we have made Him loving and forgiving?

I think the message of Jesus attacked that very problem.  What is more powerful than fear is love, so if you love one another, as God loves you, you will do what is right and be acceptable to Him.

Sounds good, but I wonder.  Is it working?

More to come...