From: "Beverly French" <frenchb@vcss.k12.ca.us>
To: "Heritage" <gheritage.ga@verizon.net>
Subject: Greetings
Date: Sunday, May 25, 2003 7:06 AM

Here is the completed message.  The first one was sent in error.  I am
sorry.  As you may suspect I am having trouble with my computer
shutting down.  I hope you have a glorious day.  B

"The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares
of death."  Proverbs 14:27

There are many verses in Scripture that enjoins (directs, charges, requires,
commands) us as to 'fear of God'.  There is also Scripture that tell of us
of the promises concerning the 'fear of God'.  The fear we are speaking
of here is 'reverent and worshipful fear'.  Let's look at some of these
verses in both the charges to and the promises of fearing God.

Deuteronomy 10:12 says, "And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God
require of you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and
to love Him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul."

Joshua 24:14 says, "Now, therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity
and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other
side of the River and in Egypt.  Serve the Lord!"

Before we go further, does this mean just God's people of old?  No, this is
for God's  people of all time!  Look at the following from the New Testament
that admonishes us to walk in all His ways, to love as He loves and to serve
Him.  (I chose only three, but there are so many more!):

The Apostle Paul speaking in Ephesians 4:1, "I...entreat you to walk in a
manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all
humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another
in love."
"So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all
respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge
of God."  Colossians l:10
"And walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for
us..."  Ephesians 5:2

The writer of Ecclesiastes in 12:13 tells us, "Fear God and keep His
commandments, for this is the whole duty of man."

And again in the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:17 says, "And if you call upon Him
as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does,
[then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time
of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

As to the precious promises of 'fearing God' we see:

"Who is the man that fears the Lord?
 Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.
 He himself shall dwell in prosperity,
 And his descendants shall inherit the earth."  Psalm 25:12

"How great is Thy goodness,
 Which Thou hast stored up for those who fear Thee,
 Which Thou hast wrought for those who take refuge in Thee...
 Thou dost hide them in the secret place of Thy presence from the
 conspiracies of man;
 Thou dost keep them secretly in a shelter from the strife of tongues."
Psalm 31:19-20

"Just as a father has compassion on his children,
 So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him."  Psalm 103:13

"The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him,
 In those who hope in His mercy."  Psalm 147:11

And in Mary's magnificat to God, she exclaims,
"And His mercy is on those who fear Him
 From generation to generation."  Luke 1:50

Let us embrace the truth of Proverbs 1:7
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge..."
Then in Psalm 110:10,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
 In Proverbs 9:10 we see that the result is understanding,
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
 And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding."

Let us give thanks to our glorious and gracious Lord for His loving kindness
and tender mercies unto us who greatly reverence our Lord and God.  Amen.