July 11, 2015: SOAP #2046: Isaiah 8-10; Hebrews 8

Fear vs. Love

Scripture: Isaiah (NIV) 8:11 The LORD spoke to me with his strong hand upon me, warning me not to follow the way of this people, He said:
12 “Do not call conspiracy everything that these people call conspiracy; do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it.
13 The LORD Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread…”

Observation: When people go looking for conspiracies, they are easily convinced that a feather blowing in the wind is proof of some plot. There is a tendency for "leaps of faith," jumping to conclusions that can only be seen by those wanting to see it. (That two men once lived in the same city does not mean that they are in a conspiracy together! Opportunity, in itself does not prove guilt!) If such flimsy evidence were applied to our lives, people would think that we are in a conspiracy with the devil because we once sinned.
-In the verses above, the people were giving to man what should only be given to God, fear. The Hebrew word used in referring to fear is the same Hebrew word used for fearing God.

Application: Fear is a form of worship. When I fear man, I am giving to God what belongs to God. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, (Ps 111:10; Pro 1:7; 9:10) and when we come to God we experience the grand truth that perfect love casts out fear! (1John 4:18) Truly I should greatly fear a holy and all-powerful God. But in receiving His great love into my life, the fear melts away. He is amazing! That is why I sing the words of John Newton: “Amazing Grace…’twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fear relieved…”

Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are a most wonderful God, both holy and loving! You are amazing! Amen