I Just Love How...

God teaches us in clusters. When he really wants us to "get it" he throws us the information from all angles. Last night I just started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan and this morning followed up with Ted Cunningham's latest message since we missed church on Sunday. And what has God been reminding me?

He is powerful.

He is holy, holy, holy.

And he is the only one we should fear... and yes, we should fear him.

Isa 8:12-13 (NIV) ...Do not fear what they fear, and do not dread it. The Lord Almighty is the one you are to regard as holy, he is the one you are to fear, he is the one you are to dread.

Mat 10:28 (NIV) [Jesus] "Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell."

Ps 111:10 (NEB) The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and they who live by it grow in understanding...

Prov 14:26-27 (NIV) He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge. The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, turning a man from the snares of death.

Phil 2:12-13 (NIV) ...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose.

Mike Yaconelli: "I would like to suggest that the Church become a place of terror again; a place where God continually has to tell us, "Fear not"; a place where our relationship with God is not a simple belief or a doctrine or theology, it is God's burning presence in our lives. I am suggesting that the tame God of relevance be replaced by the God whose very presence shatters our egos into dust, burns our sin into ashes, and strips us naked to reveal the real person within. The Church needs to become a gloriously dangerous place where nothing is safe in God's presence except us. Nothing--including our plans, our agendas, our priorities, our politics, our money, our security, our comfort, our possessions, our needs.

You may ask, what in the world does all this have to do with peace, Kristin? Well, without the fear of the Lord, we will never have peace. We will spend our energy fearing man and the loss of our idols. And no peace will ever be found there. Peace comes when we have a right understanding of ourselves and our purpose in light of a mighty and holy God.