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After all his earthly
pursuits, Solomon rightly concluded, “Fear God and keep His
commandments, For this is man's all” (Eccl.
12:13). In this article we’ll take a look at
“they that fear God.”
Obey His Commandments.
They that fear God will obey Him. Man’s salvation is
dependent upon him obeying God. Jesus declared, “Not
everyone who says to Me,'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of
heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven” (Matt.
7:21). When folks do not obey God, their “iniquities have
separated them from God” (Is. 59:2). The seriousness is of sin is
seen in that “the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23).
This is eternal separation from God. With these things in mind,
“We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
Are you obeying God?
Worship Him. Jesus
told Satan, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, 'You shall
worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve” (Matt.
4:10). In Acts 16:26 “Paul and Silas were praying and
singing hymns to God…” God has ordered “those
who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth” (John
4:24). To worship God in spirit is to do so with understanding,
meaning, and feeling. To worship God in truth is to do so
according to His word. When folks teach as doctrines the
commandments of men they worship God in vain (Matt. 15:9).
Let’s agree worship God as He has directed!
Reverence Him. They
that fear God will pay the proper respect He deserves. The
Psalmist wrote, “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath
commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”
(Psalm 111:9;KJV). Webster defines reverence as “honor or
respect felt or shown; profound adoring awed respect; a gesture of
respect (as a bow).” God commanded, “Thou shalt not
take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold
him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).
Sometimes even Christians need to be reminded on how to properly
respect God. Too many folks dress better for weddings, funerals,
or other gatherings than they do when they come together to worship the
almighty God of Heaven. The conduct of some people during worship
is not showing reverence to our Creator! Be sure to reverence, respect,
honor, and praise God properly!
Will Come And Hear.
The Psalmist said, “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I
will declare what he hath done for my soul” (Ps. 66:16). A
reading of Romans 10:17 reveals, “So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Every case of
conversion in the book of Acts began with Gospel Preaching. Folks
in the first century were willing to come and hear. There are
thousands of examples in the Book of Acts of folks hearing, believing,
and obeying. God said, “…This is my beloved Son, in
whom I am well pleased; hear ye him” (Matt. 17:5). Man must
be “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving
yourselves” (James 1:22). If you fear God hear and obey Him!
Are Not Ashamed.
They that fear God will not be ashamed to believe in Him. Jesus spoke,
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in
this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man
be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy
angels” (Mk 8:38). Paul said he was not ashamed of the
Gospel “for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth” (Rom. 1:16). Who are we trying to please,
God or man? Who do we fear? Jesus stated, “fear not
them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather
fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell”
(Matt. 10:28). Do not be ashamed of God and His saving power!
You would do well to do as Solomon said, “Fear God and keep His
commandments, For this is man's all” (Ecc. 12:13).
-Keith Welch
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