Nipate
Forum => Kenya Discussion => Topic started by: GeeMail on January 09, 2015, 02:26:29 PM
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http://www.absg.adventist.org/2015/1Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ115_01.pdf
Definitions of Fearing God
(Review Deuteronomy 10:12, 13 and Proverbs 8:13)
Fearing God results in accepting and responding to God’s grace. But what
does it mean to put that fear into practice?
1. To fear God means to fear to grieve Him.
When they were small, a man’s children would ask, “Daddy, whom should we marry?” His simple answer: “Marry someone who fears to grieve God! Why? Because only
if that person fears to make God sad will he or she fear to make you sad!
But if he or she does not care about or have respect for God, that person
will have no respect for or care about you!”
Our relationship with God is the most important relationship in life; all other relationships spring from it. “To fear the Lord is to hate evil” (Prov. 8:13, NIV).
Fearing God means to make Him happy, like a child, out of love, seeking to make a parent happy. Too simple? Listen to the words of Jesus:“ ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matt. 18:3, NIV).
2. To fear God means to respect Him and His will, making all our decisions
in regard to Him. As we are unable to always think about our parent, spouse,
or child, likewise we are unable at all times to think about God. However,
a faithful child, parent, or spouse will always make his or her decisions in
regard and respect to loved ones. Similarly, we ought to make all our decisions in regard to God, His Word, His law, and His will.
Biblically, to fear means to revere and worship God. “Let all the earth fear the
Lord; let all the people of the world revere him” (Ps. 33:8, NIV; see also
Eccles. 8:12, 13; Jer. 10:6, 7).
3. To fear God means to love and obey Him.
The concept of love in the notion of fear is not present in our modern languages. This dimension is lost and is preserved only in the biblical Hebrew: “And now, Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, to
love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
and to observe the Lord’s commands and decrees that I am giving you today for
your own good?” (Deut. 10:12, 13, NIV; see also Ps. 103:17).
To fear God means to be in love with Him, in total submission and admirable obedience.
4. To fear God means to cultivate the awareness that He is present.
He always sees us, we cannot flee from His presence, and His eye is constantly
on us. This does not mean that He is a heavenly controller but, instead, He is a
loving, caring parent. “The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear him” (Ps. 33:18, NIV).
The fear of God is an acute consciousness of God’s eye upon us and having the full assurance that we are living in His presence.
In order to cultivate a sense of awe before God, we need to enjoy His presence,
sense His holiness, and maintain a correct trembling before His grace and love.
“‘Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty!’” (Isa. 6:3, NIV; see also Ps. 2:11,
12; Phil. 2:12, 13). Superior to His creation in every way, God is not our equal
partner or a sentimental God but a consuming fire and the God of faithful love.
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http://www.absg.adventist.org/2015/1Q/TE/PDFs/ETQ115_02.pdf
January 9
Further Study:
Read Ellen G. White, “Moral Standards,” pp. 326–339,
in The Adventist Home; “In Contact With Others,” pp. 489–491, in
The Ministry of Healing; “Other Object Lessons,” pp. 117–120, in
Education.
“The student of the Bible should be taught to approach it in the spirit
of a learner. We are to search its pages, not for proof to sustain our
opinions, but in order to know what God says. . . .
“One of the chief causes of mental inefficiency and moral weakness
is the lack of concentration. . . . With the immense tide of printed matter constantly pouring from the press, old and young form the habit of reading hastily and superficially, and the mind loses its power of connected and vigorous thought.”—Ellen G. White,
Education, p. 189.
“The habitations that the ants build for themselves show skill and
perseverance. Only one little grain at a time can they handle, but by
diligence and perseverance they accomplish wonders.
“Solomon points to the industry of the ant as a reproach to those who
waste their hours in idleness or in practices that corrupt soul and body.
The ant prepares for future seasons; but many gifted with reasoning
powers fail to prepare for the future immortal life.”—Ellen G. White,
Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 190.
Discussion Questions:
Dwell more on this idea of how we can help others, even at a
personal cost to ourselves. How do we look at what this week’s
lesson taught in contrast to this verse: “Greater love has no one
than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” (John 15:13,
NKJV)?
What other lessons can we take from the natural world that
we can apply to our own lives? Given, however, that the world is
fallen, why must we be careful in the lessons we do draw?
Read through the seven abominations in Proverbs 6:16–19.
16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:
17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,
19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Why do you think that they are considered so bad in God’s eyes?