Devotional - 98-04-19 - Fear

There is a time for fear and a time for courage. Vine's Expository Dictionary translates the fear in Phil. 2:12 as "....a wholesome fear of displeasing Him...."Let's look at some of what the Word has to say about fear.

(Deu 10:12-13 NASB) ""And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require from you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, ¹³  and to keep the LORD'S commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good?"

(Lev 25:17 NASB) "'So you shall not wrong one another, but you shall fear your God; for I am the LORD your God."

(Prov 15:33 NASB) "The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility."

(Phil 2:12-13 NASB) "So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³  for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

(Eph 5:21 NASB) "and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ."

(Jude 1:22-23 NASB) "And have mercy on some, who are doubting; ²³  save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh."

(Mat 10:28 NASB) ""And do not fear those who kill the body, but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell."

(1 John 4:18 NASB) "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love."

(Rom 8:15 NASB) "For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, "Abba! Father!""

(Phil 1:14 NASB) "and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear."

Jan