30th July

Fear God

Fear of God is a key word in the Old Testament and unknown to the unbeliever even if he is afraid of God. In order to fear God we need to have a relationship with him. This fear is made from respect and submission to his majesty, confidence in his wisdom, his power and his love. Deep within it means the fear of displeasing God.

"Keep his commandments." In other words listen to God's commandments, his word, which is a revelation of who God is.

"The whole duty of man is this." After having looked for anything which could give us a sense for life and which could keep us calm in world's distress through the whole book Ecclesiastes gives us a final answer. His origin, his age or his social conditions do not matter: the whole duty of man, in other words, the reason of man's life is to cultivate his relationship with God, to love him and to obey him.

Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgement, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12, 13 & 14.

"God will bring every deed into judgement" (v. 14), this is a terrible thought for an unbeliever. However, everybody who trusts in Jesus knows that he carried the punishment which we would have deserved. Nevertheless, God in his perfect justice, will bring everything into his light. At the same time this is a serious thought and a gentle comfort to know that one day we will perfectly agree with God in spite of our aberrations. We will be filled with joy and praise when we discover everything what he has done in our lives. In his grace he will not forget anything that has been done for him.