A Little Fear and a Lot of Love

Fear, is good. I have a fear of walking across a busy street into traffic. That's not bad, that's smart. The fear of God is not the fear of a capricious emotional tyrant. The fear of God is that we will put ourselves outside the grace of God by choosing to sin and reaping what we have sown. 

A few months ago I was driving to the funeral of one of my best friends who was also the best man at my wedding. I got a ticket for speeding. My mind was not really on the speed limit, but I knew I was going a little fast. I broke the law and suffered the consequences. Fear of getting a ticket doesn't always stop us from speeding. But, you know when I see kids playing, I don't need a sign that tells me to slow down, I just slow down because I don't want to hurt anyone. 

In the same way the fear of God is more than just the fear of going to hell or being caught or punished. The fear of God is about not wanting to hurt others or God. It's also about knowing he has unfailing love for you. 

Here's the kicker: our hope is not in our goodness or our righteousness, although we seek to live and love righteously. Our hope is in his unfailing love. He died on the cross for our sins and ever lives to intercede for us at the right hand of the Father. He has gone to prepare a place for us. He will come again... that is our hope. He is faithful and he will do it. 

Do Good, Reap Good

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at

the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Galatians 6:7-10 NIV

Sometimes we do good, try to be giving and loving and all that comes back is negativity, selfishness and criticism. That's life in a world of people who live for themselves. And even as Christians we, at times, live according to the sinful nature too. No condemnation, just telling it like it is. Be patient, as God is patient with you. The way I look at it is that if God wasn't patient with me, I'd be dead.

I have seen that in some of my relationships that I have been in for a while, reaping comes after A LOT of sowing. Most of the time it is a the less I say but the more I do (serving, forgiving, honoring, encouraging, confronting while leaving them a way out, forgiving) process. Reaping can be quick and it can take time, but, God will bring a harvest of righteousness. What helps me is to remember how God continues to sow forgiveness, grace and mercy in me.

Keep on doing good, it is up to God to bring the harvest and he will at his appointed time.