SEEK DEVOTIONAL

“Aslan is a lion. The Lion, the great Lion.”
“Ooh,” said Susan. “Is he quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion.”
“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver. “Who said anything about safe? ’Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

This quote is from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and Aslan is the Christ figure in that fictional story (you can clearly tell by now that I am a fan of C.S. Lewis’ writing). This quote is a great on-ramp to introduce one of the most misunderstood, but beautiful, pillars of Scripture: the fear of the Lord.

There is so much to unpack in the fear of the Lord that we could do a full 21-day devotional on that theme alone. Don’t worry, we won’t do that. You may be thinking that today’s devotional conflicts with Day 17, where we addressed the adversary known as the spirit of fear, which operates in torment and desires to suffocate your spiritual life. This, however, is a holy fear; one that brings security and wisdom and sends fresh life coursing through the veins of our relationship with God.

To see a clear distinction between fear from the enemy and the holy fear of the Lord, look at verse 4:

I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.

Then, just three verses later, David encourages and teaches us to fear God:

The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!
Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints,
for those who fear him have no lack!

Many equate the fear of the Lord with reverence, and I think that is a good starting point. It’s not to be afraid and run away from God, quite the opposite in fact! It is an utter respect for His absolute power and authority, paired with wonder, astonishment, and fascination with God and His glory. Whether it’s Moses on Mount Sinai, Isaiah’s vision of the Lord seated on the throne, the disciples at Jesus’ transfiguration, or John being caught up to heaven in the book of Revelation; these encounters become defining moments in their lives. They are marked by holiness and deep reverence.

Paul even describes a vision of heaven and tells his readers that it would be wrong for him to describe what he witnessed because of how sacred and set apart it was.

If you were in a room with the President of the United States, his position would demand your respect and attention. You would instinctively follow whatever decorum is required so the Secret Service doesn’t tackle you and escort you out. If you were in a room with a lion, even one with no desire to make you its next meal, you would likely tremble a little. Every movement would be intentional and careful, because you are interacting with the king of the jungle.

Do we have that same posture toward the eternal King of Kings, the Lion of the tribe of Judah?

Don’t misunderstand me: this is the God who loves you dearly and laid down His life for you. But don’t forget that His majesty, might, and authority far surpass any human dignitary or creature. Comparing God to even the greatest, most renowned figures the earth has ever known is laughable by comparison.

May the fear of the Lord rest again upon His Church. May we never treat His presence with casual familiarity, but with holy wonder, reverence, awe, and deep respect for who He is and for the sacrifice He made on the cross.

Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Lord of heaven and earth, Alpha and Omega, I recognize that You are the God of eternity. Help me to live with the fear of the Lord. I don’t want empty religion, but a heart ablaze with love for You, because You loved me first. If I have been too casual or careless with Your presence, please forgive me. Have mercy on me and open my eyes again to the wonder of who You are. Let my life be marked by reverence for Your name, and let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in my life.
In Jesus’ name, amen.