Struggles With The Word

But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! Luke 12:5

Jesus told His disciples to not fear those who could kill the body and do no more. Then comes the verse that I struggle with, the one we read for today. The question is: so many times the Lord tells us to not be afraid, but then here tells us to be afraid of the very One who tells us to not be afraid! How can one be afraid of the One who loves us?

Paul may have part of our answer in the two persons we are: the old human who inherited the sin of Adam and Eve, and the new human who has been given the renewal of our Lord's grace. The former should certainly fear God and the judgment that casts out those who do not believe in His Son. The latter no longer fears this by faith in the sacrificial death of our Lord Jesus Christ. However, there is a second part of the answer for this new person in Christ. The word used as 'to be afraid', phobeo, has another usage: reverential obedience. Here is where the work in Christ of the new birth comes into this journey we have from salvation to sanctification and justification. We are no longer terrified of our Lord God, but we have a reverential obedience to Him as our Father God.

There, my mind is at ease on this now! May the love of our Lord God guide you this day!

Bucky