Thursday, January 24, 2008

Fear that glorifies

Je 17:7-8 - “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”

Trusting in the Lord, fearing the Lord, enables us to live without fear and without anxiety. When the heat comes, and it will come, because we trust in the Lord, not only can we be free from the travails of the soul, we can also still bear fruit. What an amazing promise. This concept of bearing fruit in spite of and because of the heated times in our live is an unfamiliar one to us. The book of James and the book of Romans both illustrate how trials and suffering bring about faith and perseverance and character so that we can become mature and complete. Instead of fearing the heat, we can welcome it in joy knowing that God will use it to deepen our trust in Him.

2 Ch 17:9-10 - And they taught in Judah, having the Book of the Law of the Lord with them. They went about through all the cities of Judah and taught among the people. And the fear of the Lord fell upon all the kingdoms of the lands that were around Judah, and they made no war against Jehoshaphat.

As we grow in the fear of God, not only will we that change how we view sin and life, but in this case, the fear of God fell upon the land as well. Perhaps, the fear of God is similar to the light in Matt 5 which produces good works in us and gives glory to God in Heaven because of it outward effect.