So you are driving down the road…you are wearing your seatbelt… doing the speed limit… not texting and you are in the correct lane. You come around the curve and you see a cop or should we say …YOU SEE A COP!

What was your first reaction? 

Many find themselves gasping at first … then they begin checking off “boxes”

• Seatbelt on
• Going the limit
• No cell in my hand
• Correct lane

So …you have checked all your boxes and you find that you have done nothing “wrong” YET you still have this overwhelming… all be it momentary… feeling of fear.

What is fear? Fear is an unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger or uncertainty.

The question that needs to be asked is this… 

Why do we fear the cop on the side of the road more than God?

The answer is that we DO NOT fear God as we should

That being said I am NOT speaking of “fear” like being afraid of spiders, heights, small places or the boogie man… aka terror or fright.  I am speaking of giving God the reverence  or awe that is rightfully His.

  

Like kings of old… they had the ultimate authority over all the land. They made and enforced the laws of the land. Everything that was under the king’s sovereignty (rule) was the king’s.  

God is sovereign over all of His creation… even if some don’t think so.

God makes the rules to be followed.

God will enforce the rules as He sees fit.

Matthew 10:28 tells us this… “Never be afraid of those who can kill the body but are powerless to kill the soul! Far better to stand in awe of the one who has the power to destroy body and soul in the fires of destruction!” (JB Phillips)

Romans 11:20-21 says “The situation does not call for conceit but for a certain wholesome fear. If God removed the natural branches for a good reason, take care that you don’t give him the same reason for removing you.” (JB Phillips)

1 Peter 1:17 says “if you pray to a Father who judges men by their actions without the slightest favoritism, then you should spend the time of your stay here on earth with reverent fear. (JB Phillips)

Reverent is defined as a “formal showing of devout respect”.

Awe is defined as ”an emotion combining veneration (an act of great respect, admiration, or devotion) and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred.” 

The bible tells us to do all things for God therefore we should be worshipful and godly in all our actions.

While God is not a tyrant king like many of the kings who have ruled in the past… God still deserves the reverence (awe) that should be given to Him. If you revere Him … you will do what pleases Him.