Do you fear God?

Malachi 2: 5-9

^“ My covenant with him was one of life and peace, and I gave them to him. It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. He stood in awe of my name.  True instruction was in his mouth, and no wrong was found on his lips. He walked with me in peace and uprightness, and he turned many from iniquity.  For the lips of a priest should guard knowledge, and people should seek instruction from his mouth, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts.  But you have turned aside from the way. You have caused many to stumble by your instruction. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi, says the Lord of hosts, and so I make you despised and abased before all the people, inasmuch as you do not keep my ways but show partiality in your instruction.”

I often wonder if we understand the words we read, words like “covenant” what is its true meaning? It is more than a contract or agreement when it is with God. Have we not witnessed both broken often in our culture, such as marriages?  Yes, it is generally between God and a person like Abraham or David, but God also has made a covenant with nations like Israel.  The difference is when God enters into it He does not break the promises He has agreed to, and we have many examples of God as a promise keeper, one that should stand out is the covenant with Noah on never flooding the earth again, and God’s reminder to us is the rainbow.  That is a good one but the one that is top on my list is His promise to send a Messiah, and what a blessing Jesus the giver of life has been sent to a sinful world.

I want each of us to ponder on these words; ^“ It was a covenant of fear, and he feared me. “  I have a healthy fear of God, He is holy, and as a follower of Christ, we are also commanded to be.  But when I examine my life, what do I find a man who often is not holy but sinful.  Please ask the Lord to open your eyes to 1 Peter 1:14-21, “As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”  And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.  He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”

The question is, do you fear God, for He is not like you, He is pure, in all his ways, and His thoughts and methods are beyond understanding?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice