October 17

Holy Fear

He who despises instruction will pay the penalty, but the one who respects a command will be rewarded. — Prov 13:13 BSB

Holy reverence for God’s Word seems to be in short supply these days. People think themselves wiser than Scripture and sit in judgment over it. But like Nehemiah said, "So did not I, because of the fear of God." We accept the inspired Word as infallible and prove our respect for it by obeying it. We don’t fear its penalties because we have a reverent awe for its commands.

This holy fear leads to the peace that comes with humility, which is far sweeter than the carelessness of pride. It becomes our guide in life—holding us back when we’re heading downhill and pushing us forward when we need to climb. Preserved from evil and guided into righteousness by our reverence for God’s Word, we gain a clear conscience, which is a constant source of joy; a sense of freedom from guilt, which is like being raised from the dead; and a confidence in pleasing God, which is like a taste of heaven on earth. The ungodly may mock our deep respect for God’s Word, but what does that matter? The reward for our obedience is more than enough to comfort us. The prize of our high calling makes us scorn the scorn of others.