FAITH CAPSULE: The fear of God is the love of God.
1John 3
The knowledge of God is to love and know Him. Loving God cannot happen without knowing God. Spending time in the word of God is the major route to knowing Him. To love (fear) God is to constantly dwell in His presence (His presence is His word) and not depart from Him. God spoke, “They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them. And I will make an everlasting covenant with them that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul.’” (Jeremiah 32:38-41) In the above word of God, it is clear that the fear of God is what qualifies man as God’s people and not what others think of us; it is not one’s title inside or outside of the church. Going by the word of God as written above, anyone that fears God undeniably takes a position to experience the goodness of God. It is also a joyous thing to God when we dwell in His fear. Without doubt, for anyone that is doing what makes God to rejoice over him/her, the strength of God shall never be a thing of lack in the life of such person. Why not do it right by fearing God and allow the joy of the Lord be your strength?
The love of God is what qualifies man to be considered as one that engages righteousness. 1John 3:10, “Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” It is impossible for anyone that does not love his brother to claim love for God which he/she never met with. The word of God encourages us to truly love in how we live life because love is of God. 1 John 4:8 declares it, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is Love.” It is the will of God for us to know Him and we only know Him when His fear places us to know Him in love.
The fear of God is the love of God. To love God is to know Him and to know Him is to see Him. As mentioned earlier, the fear of God that is, loving and obeying all of His command is the conclusion of all that matters to live life. It is perfectly certain that with the fear of God dwelling in us, He is faithful to establish us and guard us from the evil one.
Prayer for today: Ask for the fear of God to take charge over your life.