Devotional Guide
Legitimate Fear
Matthew 10:28 - 31
Monday May 7
Matthew 10:28; Acts 24:25; Romans 8:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:9
A frequent exhortation in Scripture is to fear God, and
nothing and no one else. The fear of
God includes fear of His judgment, which is a legitimate fear, which can
motivate the response of repentance.
Think About It: Jesus made it clear that we should fear God
who has the power of eternal condemnation (Matthew 10:28). How did Felix react to Paul's preaching on
judgment? Why did Felix react this way?
How should he have responded to Paul's preaching? "Hell-fire and brimstone" preaching
was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Why is it heard so seldom today?
Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? What is the situation for
believers regarding condemnation from God (Romans 8:1)?
Prayer: Praise God
that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Tuesday May 8
1 Corinthians 5:5; 11:28 - 32; Acts 5:1 - 11
While believers need have no fear of condemnation, fear of
God's discipline is a legitimate fear for believers. God's discipline comes as
a result of failure to "discern the body" -- i.e., attempting to
participate in the Body of Christ, symbolized by partaking of the bread and the
cup of communion, while engaging, unrepentant, in sinful activities.
Think About It:
What are some ways, according to the Scripture references for today, that God's
discipline is experienced? Why were
Ananias and Sapphira disciplined? Why was the man in Corinth "consigned to
Satan for the destruction of the body?" Did that man's experience of
discipline mean he lost his salvation?
Does God still exercise discipline on disobedient believers today?
Prayer: For a sensitive conscience and readiness to
repent, that I might not have to experience God's discipline.
Wednesday May 9
Ezra 9:3; Nehemiah 13:25; Hosea 5:8, 12, 14, 15; Luke 22:32
God's discipline must be feared because it becomes
increasingly severe if it does not result in the response of repentance.
Think About It: Ezra and Nehemiah reacted to the same sin of
God's people, which was intermarrying with idol worshipping foreigners. Ezra's response came first; Nehemiah's
response came later. What did Ezra do?
Have I ever experienced "discipline" in the form of seeing how my sin
caused grief to someone I respected? What did Nehemiah do? Have I ever
experienced that kind of discipline?
Trace the escalation of the Lord's discipline in Hosea 5. What is the worst thing that can happen?
Was Jesus' prayer for Peter in Luke 22:32 answered, and in
light of Peter's three-fold denial, in what way was it answered? What is the
most important thing that I must do should I stumble?
Prayer: For readiness to repent.
Thursday May 10
Psalm 30:7; Deuteronomy 31:17; Psalm 104:29: Psalm 143:7
In light of the stages of God's discipline outlined in Hosea
5, a sense of separation from God is rightly feared and should bring about
rigorous self-examination and sincere repentance.
Think About It:
According to Isaiah 59:2 and Psalm 66:18 what does my sinfulness cause in
regard to my relationship with God? Are
there other possible causes for a sense of God's absence? Do I sense God's presence? Do I have
assurance that God hears my prayers?
Prayer: Help me to
rigorously seek Your face, O Lord.
Friday May 11
Romans 13:3, 4; Proverbs 20:2; 24:21; Numbers 12:8; Jeremiah
25:4;
2 Peter 2:10
Scripture is very clear that we are not to fear men-- but
with an important exception. We are to fear those to whom God has granted His
authority, the human ministers of His power.
What we fear is not the person, but the divine authority exercised by
that person.
Think About It: How
is legitimate fear expressed towards those in positions of civil authority? in
positions of spiritual authority?
Prayer: For those
in authority over me.
Saturday May 12
Hebrews 4:1 - 13
We should fear falling short of grace. Hebrews 4 goes beyond directing us to avoid
sin so that we can escape from fearful discipline. The context of Hebrews 4 is
the imperative to enter the life of rest, which is promised through faith in
Christ. The legitimate fear is to fall
short of God's grace through lack of faith.
We don't have to fear that God will fail to keep His promises. We should
fear that we would not trust His promises.
Think About It:
What are some biblical examples of the particular type of sin, which is lack of
faith in God's promises? What promises are mine? Am I trusting God for all that
He promises?
Prayer: That I might enter into rest through trust in
God's promises.
Sunday May 13
1
Thessalonians 3:5; Matthew 6:13; Philippians 2:12 - 13; 2 Corinthians 10:3; 1
Corinthians 2:3
Fear of
fleshly weakness and susceptibility to temptation is another legitimate
fear. While the fear of Hebrews 4 is regarding
lack of faith, this fear is regarding lack of strength.
Think About It:
How should I pray, in view of fear of my weakness (Matthew 6:13)? What kind of specific temptations do I face?
What are my particular areas of weakness?
How can I be protected from my own weakness?
Prayer: Lead me not into temptation,
but deliver me from evil.