Is it better to love God or fear God?
Love is defined as:
ləv/
noun
- 1.an intense feeling of deep affection."babies fill parents with intense feelings of love"
synonyms: deep affection, fondness, tenderness, warmth, intimacy, attachment,endearment; More
Now see the Biblical definition of Love called Charity in Olde English:
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
This is a complete definition. If you miss one point, you are not being completely honest in claiming that you Love. Ever since you began to believe in God or follow his word or tried to change your life, have you ever offend in one of these characteristics love? Even after Jesus saved your life (from the first death) by dying a perfect sacrifice – and after you decided to follow him ?
To every honest person reading, the answer is we ALL fall short at one point or another.
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Fear is defined as: a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.
Now I ask, have you ever offended a person who made you feel this way? Have you ever crossed that person? Well i would tell you that the day that you crossed that person you feared, is the day you stop fearing that person or the consequences of the fear. For even when you cross by mistake someone whom you genuinely fear, you walk around worried until the next time you see with that person. And when you finally do run into them again, most people take thought how that they you may reverence and diligently try to make up for the offense.
This is how our relationship with God should be, based in fear.
First because, this is what the Word says: Proverbs 1:7-33 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.. Why is that? because once you fear him then you know what he will do to you if you cross him [break his Commandments] i.e sin. Through God you receive knowledge, and when you receive this knowledge you shall not fear evil 'Verse 33'.
I I hear people often say you are not supposed to fear God, and you can't serve God or Christ if you fear him... Let us then take a look at advice straight from the Messiah...
Luke 12:4-5 — here Jesus is advising us to fear something: And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5 But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
Some like to hide behind the verse that says God has not given us the spirit of fear, and I argue that that is to not fear another man or spirit as you can figure out if you read beyond verse 7 (2nd Timothy 1)...
But these words are written in red, He (Jesus) is on the earth, in the Gospels, & warning us to fear!
Psalms 19:9-13 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Notice how the fear of the Lord allows for understanding errors and being cleared from faults and being kept from sins...
- Psalms 103:17 if you want God's mercy... Fear Him!
In the 52nd Psalm, we read about the wicked being destroyed and how God will 'root' them out of the land of the living. In verse 6 we are informed that, the righteous will see this thing happen to the wicked, and they will fear and then laugh at whom God destroys. The Lord hands out vengeance and even the righteous fear. Even-though they trust in God, they fear because when you bear witness to God's, wrath, you know he is real!!
In Acts chapter 10, Peter was sent by the Holy Spirit to minister to the first Gentile brought into the church under the new covenant; coincidentally he was an Italian. In Verse 34, Peter reminds us: "...Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, AND worketh righteousness, is accepted with him."
Fear Sisters and Brothers, Fear!
At the end of 2Corinthians chapter 6, God promises to be our God and for us to be his sons and daughters. The apostle Paul continues in the 7th chapter saying: Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV)
He could have just very well said that through the fear of God we perfect holiness.
In Romans chapter 11 Paul is talking about how Israel, the natural seed of Abraham, were broken off the tree so that the Gentiles might be grafted in, and this because of their unbelief. And he quickly reminds the Romans not to be high-minded but fear because if the chosen people of God were cut asunder, the Gentiles, who were not chosen should fear, knowing that they could also be not spared.
Finally I leave you with one of the first scriptures I was ever taught, written by the apostle Paul, on whom most people base all of their doctrines on… From the second chapter of Philippians: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Philippians 2:10-12 KJV)
Knowing that any of us could backslide and decide not to follow God, could Die in our sins before we repent of something that we did unknowing or unwittingly; Paul advises us wisely to work out our salvation with fear because one wrong move, can send us to the lake of fire.
May the Lord add a blessing to the reading of His Word...
Grace and Peace in the name of Jesus... The God of Israel
Knowledge is The Key - Locksmif
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