Do You Fear Or Revere God?

"Jesus climbed into a boat and went across the lake to His own town. Some people brought to Him a paralyzed man on a mat. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man,"Take heart, son! Your sins are forgiven."  Matthew 9:1-2

Do you enjoy being in the presence of God? Are you free to laugh and play in His presence? Has the spontaneity to be silly and fun seem to be missing in your life? Could it be that many of us in the body of Christ today are afraid of God?

I have been wondering for some time now what the difference is between fearing God and revering God. Let me share by way of summary, what my thinking and praying has led me to thus far.

Being afraid of God reveals at least two errors in our thinking. First, it reveals that we really don't understand or trust God's true nature and character. Somehow we don't see Him as a loving compassionate God who is full of mercy and kindness toward His children, all the time, no matter what.  He's seen as an angry judge instead of a loving Father.

Secondly, it reveals that we do not understand or trust the finished work on the cross. It is because of Jesus, death and resurrection, that we are completely forgiven, fully pleasing, totally accepted and absolutely complete in Christ.

These two misunderstandings will ultimately lead to a life of relational fear and doubt towards God and others.

Revering God leads to a healthy respect for Him because of who He is. To revere God means to have an attitude of deep respect, love and awe.

Notice the different responses from the people to the person and work of Jesus in these chapters. In chapter 8, Jesus cast out demons from a man and cast them into the swine. A healing miracle, yet the response of the people who witnessed it was fear. They begged Jesus to leave them alone and leave their town.

In chapter 9, Jesus heals and forgives a paralyzed man's sins. In verse 8, we see that the people responded not in fear, but with reverence, an attitude of deep respect, love and awe! Why did these people have different responses to Jesus miraculous healing?

I believe that when we are "in Adam" (in the flesh), it fosters law, bondage and lack of intimacy with Father, and our response will always be one of being afraid of God and His power. He appears to the one in Adam, (the flesh), as scary and powerful.

When we are "in Christ" living out of our identity (in the Spirit), it fosters grace, freedom and intimacy with Father and our response will be one of reverence, an attitude of deep respect, love and awe for God and His power. He will appear to us as One we can love, trust and approach with joy and confidence.

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