Fear the Lord

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After yesterday's sermon, it struck me that fearing God IS the key: the foundation behind the principle of the Sabbath.

"If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the LORD's holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
then you will find your joy in the LORD,
and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob."
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.
(Isa 58:13-14)

I cannot honor the Sabbath if I don't fear the Lord.
I cannot find delight in the Sabbath if I don't fear the Lord.
I will go my own way if I don't fear the Lord.

And...I will miss the blessings if I don't fear the Lord.

Sad reality is that I don't fear the Lord ENOUGH in many areas of my life. The unedifying thoughts that I have encouraged & entertained (and not tried hard enough to eradicate); the murmurings and grumblings; the discontent about life, the lack of fervour, the ill-discipline, the desire to do my own thing instead of obeying God....the list continues.

Why else am I still in this state, if I have the proper fear of the Holy God in my heart?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. (Eph 5:8-17)

A wake-up call. Time to take heed.
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