April 29, 2025
- djohnstoncc
- Apr 29
- 2 min read
LIVE EACH DAY IN REVERENCE AND AWE
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
“Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”
Philippians 2:12–13 NLT
TODAY’S THOUGHT
Yes, this is the same passage we looked at yesterday—but today we’re focusing on the last part of verse 12: “obeying God with deep reverence and fear.”
I grew up with a lot of fear of God. My view was that He was the big judge in the sky—wearing a black robe, holding a club, just waiting to clobber me the moment I had a bad thought, said the wrong word, or messed up in some way. Most of the sermons I heard seemed to center around “thou shalt not.”
As I grew in my understanding of grace and mercy, a healthier balance began to form. I saw God not just as a righteous judge, but also as a loving Father. Still, sometimes it seems like we swing the pendulum from one extreme to the other—from a fear that makes us afraid of God, to a grace mindset that treats Him too casually.
Perhaps a helpful picture of the relationship Paul is encouraging here is like taking your child to the beach.
You’d be a bad parent if you told your young child, “Go enjoy the ocean,” and then laid down for a nap under an umbrella. A child who’s never been to the beach doesn’t understand the power of the waves or the pull of the current.
A good parent will walk with them, explaining how to enjoy the water while respecting its power. You show them how to be safe and why caution matters—not because the water is bad, but because it’s powerful.
In the same way, we must approach God with a proper sense of reverence. He is the Creator of the universe—holy, all-powerful, all-knowing. But He is also full of grace, mercy, and love.
Let’s never take God casually. Let’s always remind ourselves of who He is. He is a holy God—and He calls us to live holy lives in response to His goodness.
TODAY’S PRAYER
Father God, forgive me for the times I’ve taken You too casually. Forgive me for forgetting the immensity of who You are. Holy Spirit, help me live each day in reverence and awe. Shape my heart to walk in holiness, not out of fear, but out of love and honor for You.
“Scroll down to share what you feel God is saying based on today’s reading.”
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