Open Heavens Devotional by Pastor E.A. Adeboye
MEMORIZE: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.” (Psalm 111:10).
READ: Proverbs 14:26-27
Apart from learning that no problem lasts forever through the death of the Egyptian king recorded in Exodus 2:23-25, we also learn that only God is eternal. All earthly kings were born one day and would die one day. But the King of kings has no beginning or ending. He was before anything else existed and would continue to exist, without any question, after all is melted and gone. “Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen” (1 Tim 1:17). Little wonder He calls Himself the I AM THAT I AM (Exod. 3:14). He is self-existent One. He does not depend on anything or anyone to live, as we humans do. Malachi 3:6 says He is the God that never changes. This means the passing of time never adds to or subtracts from Him. He maintains His essence before and after time. He never grows old. Age does not affect God the way it affects mortals.
The implication of God being eternal is that He alone should be feared. The day you begin to fear God is the day you are seen as being truly wise (Ps. 111:10). If you fear men but do not fear God, you are of all men most foolish. In fact, Matthew 10:28 says the terror of man is limited; hence, men should not be feared. That boss threatening you has limited power. Is he asking you to violate God’s Word? Don’t! The worst he can do is to sack you or cook up stories against you. Now, when God says that boss has reached his limits, he cannot go any further. God, however is to be feared because not only are His powers and abilities unlimited on earth, they reign also in the hereafter. Decisions on who goes to heaven or hell are with Him. Do you fear God? If you do, you would keep a distance from anything He hates. Are you frolicking with sin and still claiming to fear God? If you fear Him, you will hate sin. If you fear Him, you will not fear men. If you fear Him, it would affect the company you keep. It would affect the places you go and the things you do. If you fear God, you will focus on the things that make Him happy. What is the proof that you fear God? Ask for the genuine fear of God.
ACTION POINT
The fear of God is a very scarce commodity in the Christian community. Ask God to put in you the Spirit of the fear of God.
Bible in One year: Luke 18-21
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