If children won’t obey their parents, they would only repeat what Adam and Eve did to their Great Father in the Garden of Eden, when they did not trust Him. The serpent said, “God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5 KJV). Their Creator fashioned them in His image, not for the sport of bossing them around, but to commune with them. Not as equals in authority, but equals in placement to embrace righteousness and shun evil. Just as our Heavenly Father punished Adam and Eve by inflicting pain, suffering, and death to restore them, His motivation was always love. Hence, wisdom understands, “The one who spares his rod hates his child, but the one who loves his child is diligent in disciplining him” (Proverbs 13:24 NET). LORD, may our Christian parents fear You more than the devil our adversary. Honor the willingness of parents insisting upon the obedience of their children, as unto the LORD. Cast out from our families the spirit of disobedience that inhabits this earth. May we be headed for Heaven, and may our children meet us there. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen and amen.
Fear God More Than Death
Do Not Fear What Others Fear
“Do not say, Conspiracy, every time these people say the word. Don’t be afraid of what scares them; don’t be terrified” (Isaiah 8:12 NET). But, you say, They make so much sense! Remember, Yahweh is the Almighty. No labyrinth or machination of wickedness is greater than our God. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world” (1John 4:4 KJV). If we keep our focus upon the LORD, then we take great delight in the knowledge of our necessity and ability to obey His command. “Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matthew 10:28). Though the enemy may take the form of a frightening, foul fiend from a Peter Jackson “Lord of the Rings” movie, ours is only to “sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:1). LORD, may we fear, dread, love, and obey You only. Amen and Amen.
Analysis: Fear — the Bad and the Good
“Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward” (Genesis 15:1 KJV). 62 times in the KJV, we are told to “fear not.” Fear is an emotion capable of causing great harm in humans. Our physical body can be so greatly impacted by fear, it can cause death, as witnessed by Nabal, when he found that David was coming to slay him but was intercepted and prevented by Abigail’s wise actions. Nabal’s “heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the LORD smote Nabal, that he died” (1Samuel 25:37-38). Fear of God, by comparison, is a right relationship with Him, who is the source of life and the only means of escaping death. “Sanctify the LORD of hosts Himself; and let Him be your fear, and let Him be your dread” (Isaiah 8:13). Fear of God is the positive emotion of trusting Him who is worthy of our trust. “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28).
Cure for Fear
“What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee” (Psalm 56:3 KJV). Better than whistling a happy tune, because the One we trust is greater than anything that can harm us. David didn’t stop there, but went on. “In God I will praise His word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me” (56:4). In God We Trust may only sound like an advertising slogan minted on coins, but true confidence in God is deceptively powerful. Faith is so effective an antidote for fear, the enemy mocks and trivializes it in hope the godly will be lulled into a false sense of “maybe this is too simple to work.” Exactly. Because it is not about us, but about whom we are trusting. Almighty God. “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Genesis 18:14).
Victory Over the Enemy
“And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God” (Revelation 15:2 KJV). Victory over the enemy may mean pain, suffering, and death, which is depicted here in the saints who overcame the Antichrist through their martyrdom. Though we must be determined to live for Christ, we should be unhesitant to die for Christ. If not, we are merely sunshine soldiers hoping to get to Heaven the easiest way possible. Christ never said all would be martyred for Him, but all would be witnesses for Him.
We Need A Miracle 