An Idea Borrowed

Years ago on a radio program someone shared that they read a chapter in Proverbs every day. Since there are 31 chapters and the longest month has 31 days it allows you to read through Proverbs on a regular basis. I use it as the launch pad for my personal worship time and branch out from there. On this blog I will try to share some of the insights I have in the Word. I will try to organize them in the archive by reference.

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Don’t Be Afraid of Fear

(Proverbs 3:25 KJV)  Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it cometh.

Don’t waste your “afraid” (3372)ration on worrying about people making you jump.  We can be startled.  Don’t worry about it.  “Sudden” (6597) “fear” (6343) is something you can’t control.  This is a different fear than the fear of the Lord.

Notice that there are two different words for “afraid” (3372) and “fear” (6343).  The first is the word commonly used when we talk about fear of the Lord.  This is healthy.  The second is more often used for unhealthy dread. 

A healthy fear helps us to focus.  It causes anticipation and energizes us to improve and excel.  It is the kind of concern you have for an approaching deadline on a project that you know how to handle.  The student who has done his homework was motivated to do it.  He wonders how he did.  The student who did nothing has a dread based on his known failure.  The first is the believers attitude toward God. 

So?  Someone startles you and you jump.  Laugh along with them.  They got you.  God tends to let us know He is coming.  Watch for Him with a holy fear.

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