Fear of the Lord – Household Words:

The Awe of God. 1 Samuel 6:19-20.

Israel disobeyed God by bringing the Ark of the Covenant to the battlefield. Israel lost the battle to the Philistines, and they lost the Ark of the Covenant too. The idol-worshipping enemies of God then brought the Ark to their own temple. The next morning their idol, Dagon, had fallen down. They stood him up.Continue reading “The Awe of God. 1 Samuel 6:19-20.”

Hard Woods, Soft Woods, and Woods for the Fire Pit. Ezekiel 15:2-7.

Bald Cypress trees at the Guadalupe River State Park. Quality woods growing in our area include soft woods like Bald Cypress and Southern Pine, and hard woods like Live Oak and Water Oak. But some plants on the Texas Gulf Coast are intriguing but useless. There is the Chinese Tallow, a decorative but much-maligned invasiveContinue reading “Hard Woods, Soft Woods, and Woods for the Fire Pit. Ezekiel 15:2-7.”

The Fear of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 28:15.

Image: the famous “Earthrise” photo captured by the crew of Apollo 8 on Christmas Eve, 1968. Part One: a Challenge to Put Some Effort into Your Bible Reading. Most of us believe we ought to read the Bible. Many of us start. But finishing is a real challenge and a significant accomplishment. The Good Book,Continue reading “The Fear of the Lord. 2 Chronicles 28:15.”

“In Spirit and in Truth”–Worship With Enthusiasm and the Fear of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.

The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object of the Hebrew faith. It was a national treasure to be kept in the tabernacle or the temple. But when David became king, the ark had been sitting in the home of Abinadab for twenty years (and God had blessed Abinadab greatly as a result).Continue reading ““In Spirit and in Truth”–Worship With Enthusiasm and the Fear of the Lord. 1 Chronicles 13:7-12.”

A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.

God often allows things we do not understand: poverty, illnesses, suffering, death. He welcomes your questions. Questions are allowed. But we are not called to ask questions. We are called to worship God, to fall on our faces in awe and reverence and fear. And such fear is not crippling, it is empowering. The FearContinue reading “A Gift from the Ancient of Days. Revelation 6-7.”

FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.

Some think they can sin all they want because God will always forgive. What’s the harm in a “white lie,” right? So I cheat a little on homework or taxes, so what? Well, God may forgive, but what about CONSEQUENCES? Even in this AGE OF GRACE, we reap what we sow. The worse your sin,Continue reading “FORGIVENESS, GRACE, & CONSEQUENCES. Acts 5:1-11.”

WHAT DOES GOD FEEL LIKE? Acts 2:41-43.

Here’s a touchy-feely topic—but what does it feel like to encounter God? My first response is joy—so much JOY. Add to that PEACE, ACCEPTANCE, and a sense of RIGHTNESS. My experiences with God have never resulted in one Biblical emotion: FEAR. If I did not know better, I might argue fear is an Old TestamentContinue reading “WHAT DOES GOD FEEL LIKE? Acts 2:41-43.”

BE HONEST WITH GOD. Acts 5:3-10; Hebrews 13:8.

The New Covenant was amazing: No more animal sacrifices. No more striving to follow 613 rules. No more struggling to hear God speak through prophets. In the age of grace, God pours out His Holy Spirit. In grace, His sheep hear His voice! John 10:27. In grace, Jesus says “I will not leave you asContinue reading “BE HONEST WITH GOD. Acts 5:3-10; Hebrews 13:8.”

Preacher Scandals and the Fear of the Lord. Luke 12:5-7.

Preacher scandals are sadly common. As with any class of claims, a few are groundless. But many are based on misconduct—from abusive leadership to embezzlement, adultery, pedophilia, and more. There are websites and newsletters reporting the alleged misdeeds of America’s pastors. Here are two things to keep in mind: First, stories of disgraced men ofContinue reading “Preacher Scandals and the Fear of the Lord. Luke 12:5-7.”

DOES TODAY’S CHRISTIAN FEAR THE LORD? Mark 4:38-41; 2 Corinthians 5:10.

One of the most dramatic scandals of my life was the implosion of the ministry of Jim Bakker. Throughout the 1980s, Bakker preached on a high-profile television show. He and his wife generated millions of dollars in donations. As is all-too-common, they promised donors that God would make the donors rich, but the ones gettingContinue reading “DOES TODAY’S CHRISTIAN FEAR THE LORD? Mark 4:38-41; 2 Corinthians 5:10.”