Morning thoughts...

 

"Do you not fear me? declares the Lord.

Do you not tremble before me?"

Jeremiah 5:22

Is this not the source of our problems? Is this not the very cause of our sinful predilections? 

Thoughts cross our mind, seemingly uninvited and we fail to bring them into conformity with God's will. Soon they become temptations. We do not fear God. We do not fear his judgement. We do not fear even disappointing our Savior.  And the temptation finds it's relief in the sinful engagement of the temptation. 

^"When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” 

For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt 

anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged 

away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after 

desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when 

it is full-grown, gives birth to death." (James 1:13-15)

 

If only we truly feared the judgement of God more fully. If only we trembled at the thought of disappointing Him, of receiving His judgement upon the works of our flesh.

True are the words of the Proverb, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom."

We are too focused on a loose and cheap understanding of grace that tells us to be filled with joy because our sins are forgiven and we neglect the thought regarding the price that was paid.  And when we do this we think casually upon the sins, our sins, which placed Him on the cross.  We think nothing of the pain our sin caused, the humiliation that should have been ours, that which we do deserve, death itself and eternal separation from God.

Lord, break our hearts over our sinfulness. Give us a greater fear of you that leads to wisdom and a life that is pleasing to you.  As we look at our world may we concern ourselves more with how we might live the righteous and holy life to which we are called, and less with how others fail to live up to your standards, in Jesus' name. Amen!