“Fearing people”—by either being afraid of them or putting too much hope in them, “is a dangerous trap” (Prov.29:25). But “the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life” (Prov.14:27) —for it means God is bigger than mere people to us, alone worthy of our worship, and singularly able to wilt our worries and drive out our fears.
Heavenly Father, we don’t understand all your reasons for choosing to seat certain kings, mayors, and leaders—while you unseat others (Dan. 2:21). The “secret things” and the ways of providence belong to you (Deut. 29:29). But we do know you have already installed Jesus as the true and eternal King (Rev.1:5). Hallelujah, yea verily, and Amen!
And we know that one Day “every knee will bow to Jesus and every tongue confess that he is Lord.” That Day will bring great glory to you, eternal joy to us, and perfect everything everywhere (Phil.2:10-11; Rev.21:1-5). We also know that peace, joy, and beauty—(not angst, vexation, and doubt), fill the courts of heaven right now (Psalm 2:4-6, Rev.4-5, Heb.12:22). So, as we head into this weekend, Abba, please intensify our “fear of the Lord,” shrink our awe of people, and supersize our hope in the Gospel. It’s messy and hard down here.
Indeed, we have brothers and sisters in Christ in many different nations who are experiencing suffering, privation, and expressions of darkness—even as we who live in the USA are living in an unsettling, vulnerable, ugly stretch of our own country’s history. So today, Abba, we choose afresh the “fountain of life” that comes from fearing you.
Likewise, we choose again to avoid the “dangerous trap” of putting too much confidence in mere men. The main “file” we want to think about this weekend is the “file” of our sin with CANCELED written all over it in huge red letters. Hallelujah and So Very Amen.