Bible Reading: Isaiah 8:1-22
“Sanctify the Lord of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread” – Isaiah 8:13 (KJV).
It is amazing how people fear and dread shrines, deities and even fellow human beings perceived to be powerful or wicked. God is so merciful, forgiving, loving and gracious that people often take him for granted. They forget that he is equally a consuming fire. Jesus is both the lamb and the lion. God is so loving, so caring and so merciful. In his mercy, he allows the sun and the rain on the good and the bad.
Most often, people take God’s love for granted. The fear and respect he deserve is often despised. Rather than stand in awe of God and bow in respect and reverential fear, people often live and behave as if God has no place in their lives. Prophet Isaiah admonished us to sanctify the Lord God in our heart. To sanctify means to set apart, to treat with respect, to give or accord special honour or to treat as holy. We are to set God apart in our hearts and fear him. We are to give him a special place of honour that he deserves. We are to let him have the first place in our hearts, minds and actions. We should fear, respect, and honour God. The fear and dread of God is to stand in awe of him; to respect, obey and reverence him.
When we dread people or things, we tend to run away or distance ourselves from them. God does not scare us, his love is inviting and welcoming. The fear of God is to hate sin, reverence and respect God. He deserves our reverence and respect.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, restore your fear in my life.
Rev. Vincent Diolu