Embracing the Fear of the Lord: Awe and Obedience

Devotional

Day 1: The Fear of the Lord—Awe and Reverence, Not Dread

The fear of the Lord is not about being terrified or wanting to run from God, but about standing in awe and reverence before Him—recognizing both His nearness as our comforter and His majesty as the ocean-holding, universe-spanning, star-breathing Creator. This kind of fear draws us closer, bowing in respect and wonder, rather than pushing us away in terror. When we truly grasp who God is, it changes our perspective, fills our hearts, and directs our paths, inviting us to live in the tension of His intimacy and His infinite greatness. [41:59]

Deuteronomy 5:29 (ESV):
"Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!"

Reflection:
When was the last time you paused to consider both the nearness and the vastness of God? Take a moment today to meditate on one aspect of God’s greatness that fills you with awe, and let it shape your prayers and your attitude toward Him.

Day 2: Radical Obedience Flows from Knowing Who God Is

Understanding the true fear of the Lord—His power, wisdom, and faithfulness—frees us to step out in radical obedience, even when we don’t have all the answers or the plan seems impossible, because we trust the One who calls us. Like Noah, we can say “yes” to God’s leading, not because we see every detail, but because we know the character and capability of the One who asks. This trust also releases us from anxiety about outcomes, reminding us that our job is obedience and God’s job is the result. [54:24]

Genesis 6:22 (ESV):
"Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him."

Reflection:
Is there something God is asking you to do that feels risky or unclear? What would it look like to trust His character enough to take the next step, even if you don’t see the whole path?

Day 3: Accepting Correction Because of Who God Is

When we understand the greatness and authority of God, we become more willing to accept His correction, knowing it comes from the One who sees all, knows all, and loves us deeply. Instead of dismissing hard truths or uncomfortable messages, we can receive them as loving guidance from our Creator, who desires our good and growth. The source of correction makes all the difference—when it’s from the ocean-holding, universe-spanning God, it’s worth listening to and acting upon. [01:02:00]

Jeremiah 26:12-13 (ESV):
"Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, 'The Lord sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore mend your ways and your deeds, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will relent of the disaster that he has pronounced against you.'"

Reflection:
Think of a recent moment when you felt challenged or corrected—did you resist or receive it? How might remembering who God is help you respond differently to His correction today?

Day 4: Believing God’s Promises Because of His Power

Believing God’s promises becomes possible when we remember the One making them—He is the Creator of the stars, the One who brings beauty from ashes and rest to the weary. When circumstances seem impossible or hope feels out of reach, anchoring our faith in God’s limitless power and faithfulness enables us to trust that His promises are sure, no matter what we see. [01:06:04]

Genesis 15:5-6 (ESV):
"And he brought him outside and said, 'Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.' And he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness."

Reflection:
What promise of God feels hardest for you to believe right now? Take time to reflect on God’s power and faithfulness, and ask Him to help you trust His word in that area.

Day 5: Valuing Prayer Because of Who Hears Us

When we grasp the awe-inspiring reality that the Creator of the universe invites us to pray, it transforms our approach to prayer from a last resort to a first response. In impossible situations, instead of compromising or surrendering to defeat, we can turn to God in prayer, confident that He is able to do what we cannot and delights to act on behalf of His people. [01:11:17]

2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV):
"O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Reflection:
What situation in your life feels overwhelming or impossible? Instead of giving in to compromise or despair, bring it honestly to God in prayer today, trusting that He is both willing and able to act.

Sermon Summary

This morning, we explored the profound and often misunderstood concept of the “fear of the Lord.” While Scripture repeatedly tells us not to fear in the sense of dread or terror, it also calls us to a different kind of fear—a deep reverence and awe for God’s majesty, power, and holiness. This isn’t a fear that drives us away, but one that draws us near, bowing in humility before the One who holds oceans in His hand, spans the universe, and breathes out stars. At the same time, this God is the approachable Jesus, our comforter and friend, who walked among us and gave Himself for us. Holding both truths together—God’s infinite greatness and His intimate nearness—transforms how we live.

Understanding the fear of the Lord changes everything. It leads to radical obedience, as seen in Noah’s willingness to build the ark without all the details, simply trusting the One who asked. It frees us from the need to control outcomes, reminding us that our job is obedience and God’s job is results. This reverence also helps us accept correction, knowing that when God calls us to change, it’s the voice of the all-knowing Creator, not just human opinion. It strengthens our faith in God’s promises, because the One making those promises is the same One who created the stars and numbers the hairs on our heads. And it deepens our value for prayer, because we’re not just speaking into the air—we’re talking to the all-powerful, all-loving God who delights to hear and answer.

To grow in this awe and reverence, we must meditate on God’s creation and remember His mighty works in our lives. Taking time to marvel at the world around us and recalling the ways God has come through for us in the past enlarges our view of Him. The more we see God for who He truly is, the more we are moved to worship, trust, and obey. And when we come to the table of communion, we remember that the One who was broken for us is not just a man, but the eternal Creator—making His sacrifice more than sufficient for all our sins. May we walk this week mindful of who God truly is, standing in awe of His greatness and bathing in His love.

Key Takeaways

1. The fear of the Lord is not about terror or dread, but about a profound reverence and awe for God’s majesty and holiness. It’s a fear that makes us bow, not bolt—a recognition of the vast distance between God’s greatness and our smallness, yet also His nearness and love. This dual vision of God as both transcendent Creator and intimate Savior is essential for a healthy spiritual life. [41:59]
2. Radical obedience flows from a true fear of the Lord. When we grasp who is asking us to step out in faith—the ocean-holding, universe-spanning, star-breathing God—we can obey even when we don’t have all the details. Our responsibility is obedience; the outcome belongs to God, freeing us from anxiety about results and empowering us to trust Him fully. [54:55]
3. Accepting correction becomes possible when we remember who is correcting us. God’s call to change isn’t just another human opinion; it’s the loving guidance of the all-knowing Creator. When we recognize the source, we can receive even hard words with humility, knowing they are for our good and growth. [63:15]
4. Believing God’s promises is easier when we remember the One making them. In seasons of doubt or despair, recalling that the promises come from the Creator of the stars and the Sustainer of all things gives us confidence to trust, even when circumstances seem impossible. The power behind the promise is what makes it trustworthy. [66:04]
5. Prayer gains new significance when we realize who is listening. Instead of compromising or surrendering in impossible situations, we can turn to prayer, knowing we are heard by the all-powerful, all-loving God. This perspective transforms prayer from a last resort to our first and best response, inviting God’s miraculous intervention. [71:17]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[34:54] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
[35:29] - What Are You Afraid Of?
[36:20] - Encounters with Fear: Bats and Beyond
[39:24] - The Fear of the Lord in Scripture
[41:14] - Blessings and Benefits of Fearing God
[41:59] - What Does It Mean to Fear the Lord?
[43:37] - Holding Both: Jesus as Comforter and Creator
[46:59] - The Majesty of God in Creation
[48:41] - The Ocean Analogy: Awe and Reverence
[53:48] - Radical Obedience: The Example of Noah
[56:41] - Trusting God with the Outcome
[59:07] - Obedience and the Weight of Who God Is
[60:33] - Accepting Correction: Jeremiah’s Story
[63:52] - Believing God’s Promises: Abraham’s Example
[67:15] - Valuing Prayer: Jehoshaphat’s Prayer
[72:51] - Growing in Awe: Meditating on Creation
[76:26] - Remembering God’s Works
[77:40] - Communion: The Sacrifice of the Creator
[85:06] - Closing Prayer and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Deuteronomy 5:29 (ESV) — > Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants forever!

2. Hebrews 12:28-29 (ESV)
> Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

3. 2 Chronicles 20:12 (ESV)
> O our God, will you not execute judgment on them? For we are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.

Observation Questions

In Deuteronomy 5:29, what does God desire for His people, and what is the promised result if they have this kind of heart?
According to Hebrews 12:28-29, what attitude should we have when we worship God, and why?
In the story of Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:12), what was the king’s response when faced with an impossible situation?
The sermon described the “fear of the Lord” as a fear that makes us bow, not bolt. What does this mean in your own words? [[41:59]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God links fearing Him with keeping His commandments and things “going well” for His people? What does this suggest about the connection between reverence and obedience? [[41:14]]
The sermon emphasized holding both God’s greatness and His nearness together. How does seeing God as both the Creator of the universe and our approachable Savior change the way we relate to Him? [[43:37]]
When Jehoshaphat faced overwhelming odds, he chose prayer over compromise or surrender. What does this reveal about his understanding of who God is? [[01:09:15]]
The sermon said that remembering who is making the promise (God) helps us trust His promises. Why does the character of the promise-maker matter so much in our faith? [[01:06:04]]

Application Questions

The sermon gave the example of Noah’s radical obedience, even when he didn’t have all the details. Is there something in your life right now where God is asking you to step out in faith without knowing the outcome? What would it look like to obey, trusting God with the results? [[54:55]]
When was the last time you received correction—either from God’s Word, a sermon, or another believer? Did you receive it as God’s loving guidance, or did you dismiss it as just someone’s opinion? How can remembering who is correcting you change your response? [[01:03:15]]
The sermon talked about how the fear of the Lord frees us from the need to control outcomes. Are there areas in your life where you are anxious about results? How might a deeper reverence for God help you let go of control? [[58:09]]
Think about a promise of God that you struggle to believe right now. How does remembering that the One making the promise is the Creator of the stars and the Sustainer of all things help you trust Him more? [[01:06:04]]
The story of Jehoshaphat shows that prayer should be our first response, not our last resort. When you face impossible situations, do you tend to compromise, surrender, or pray? What would it look like to make prayer your first response this week? [[01:11:17]]
The sermon suggested that meditating on God’s creation and remembering His works in your life can grow your awe and reverence for Him. What is one practical way you can do this in the coming week? (For example, taking a walk in nature, journaling answered prayers, or sharing a story of God’s faithfulness with someone.) [[01:12:51]]
When you take communion or remember Jesus’ sacrifice, do you focus more on His nearness or His greatness? How might holding both together deepen your worship and gratitude? [[01:17:40]]

Sermon Clips

And this phrase that's used over and over in the Bible, it's not the idea of dread. It's not the idea of like being afraid of imminent destruction. And it's not fear as in revulsion, like bats, right? It's this sense of reverence and awe for who our God is. One person said it like this, it's a fear that makes you bow, not a fear that makes you bolt, right? It doesn't make us flee from God's presence, but it does make us respect his authority. [00:41:59] (37 seconds) #fearthatbowsnotbolts

But if I can hold the beauty and the wonder of what the ocean is, and its power and might and vastness simultaneously, then I can enjoy all the ocean has for me. Right? How much more so with Jesus? How much more so do we need to hold the fact that He's the man who became perfect, the God -man who died in our place, and wants to gather us in as chickens to His hen, at the same time we hold the fact that He is an ocean -holding, universe -spanning, star -breathing, all -seeing, all -knowing, never -ending Creator God. And holding the two of those is what I think the Bible means by people who have the fear of the Lord. [00:52:17] (52 seconds) #valuecorrection

My job's obedience, his job's outcome. That I get to walk in obedience and let God worry about the outcome. I think that having a true fear of who our God is can lead us to radical obedience. [00:58:33] (17 seconds) #praytoourcreator

Because who the advice is coming from makes all the difference, doesn't it? Because I'm getting back into golf. I hadn't played golf in a long time. Golf's an unforgiving game, by the way. I used to be good at it. Not anymore. Um, but as I'm getting back into golf, I realized something that I'd forgotten about it. See, golf is the only sport I've ever played where people who are significantly worse than you feel free to give you advice. Like someone will tell you how to fix your swing and then they'll come up and like shank it out of bounds for the fourth time that round. It's all golfers do it. And we all ignore each other. But what if I'm standing up there and I hit a terrible shot and then out of the woods comes Tiger Woods. And he's like, hey, you should really fix this in your swing. Am I going to listen? Yes, of course I'm going to listen. Because who the correction is.is coming from makes all the difference. [01:02:38] (57 seconds) #teachfearofthelord

It's really important when we look at the promises of the Bible to remember who's making them to us. Because sometimes they can be really hard to believe otherwise. That God says he can make beauty for ashes. What about when you're standing in a pile of ashes? Maybe you burned your life down. Maybe there was an arsonist. You're standing in a wreckage and you're going, how can you make beauty from this? And the only way you can stand in faith on that promise is if you have a proper fear, awe, reverence of who it is who's making that promise. That he is a, do you guys have it by now? An ocean holding, universe spanning, star breathing, all seeing, all knowing, never ending creator. That's who's making you that promise. So you can believe it. [01:05:45] (59 seconds) #fearoflordamazing

When we realize how big our God is, He shouldn't even be mindful of us. But not only is He mindful of us, but He left glory, came to earth, was born as a human, and lived perfectly as a human so that He could have His body broken for us. That's unbelievable. That's incredible. That that creator of the universe would allow Himself to be broken for you and for me. [01:22:32] (38 seconds)

``Because it wasn't the blood of a first century Nazarene that covers your sins. It's not the blood of a man, even a perfect man, that covers and washes away our sins. It's the blood of an ocean -holding, universe -spanning, star -breathing, all -knowing, all -powerful, eternal creator God. God, that's why the blood is big enough to wash away your sins. And that's why we can be confident that we're clean in Him. [01:24:05] (34 seconds)

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