It is Healthy to Keep a Fear of the Lord
A New Way to Remember Jesus Death and Fearing the Lord
Daily life is full of things we do every day. Sometimes, we forget how special it is. In our Christian belief, there is a big warning not to make the death of Jesus and the fear of the Lord just a routine. These are very important truths, and they need to stay real and deep. To really understand how important Jesus death is, we should think about it like it happened just now and go to God with respect that we often forget in our busy life.
The Cross: Right Now
When we think about Jesus death, it can be easy to just think of it as a story from long ago. But the Bible tells us that the cross is not just history, but something that is still important today.
the Bible is a living book and we should remember that we are living the prophecy out right now while on this Earth. I think this is often overlooked and the Bible can be seen as boring to some but when you understand this is not just things of the past but what is to come it is exciting.
Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” This is not just about thinking, he wanted to let Jesus death guide his life right now.
When we hear “Jesus died for our sins,” it should not feel like just a saying or something from the past. We must make it feel real and strong. It’s like the nails are still going into his hands and feet, like the heaviness of the world's wrongdoing is still on him, and the Lamb of God is dying for our sins right now.
Hebrews 12:2 says, “looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sitting at the right hand of the throne of God.”
This is not something just to remember—it is what our faith is all about, still alive and changing everything. It is easy to forget or get distracted by life like we all do but the fact remains we are all going to leave this earth someday, we don’t know when, but we want to be ready.
Formality or True Respect
We often turn Jesus sacrifice into just a routine thing. We say creeds, have Communion, and sing songs, which are good, but they can become empty if we forget how heavy they are. The Bible warns us not to treat important acts like it’s just a checklist.
Jesus said in Matthew 15:8, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
Routines can sneak into our worship, turning it into a list of things to do instead of meeting the living God. God wants heart change, not just doing religious things. In Isaiah 29:13, he says, “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men…” He sees right through the outside and wants true love for him.
I am guilty of this frequently “just going through the motions” but I try to pull my self out and take time too really be present with Christ. Even as I write this article its easy to go fast, get it done, and schedule the next post but I try to take time to pray as I am going through these things for you and for myself, but mostly for the relationship to Jesus.
To stop formality, we must keep a heart that is amazed by Jesus death, like it is happening right now. We must fight the urge to let his sacrifice fade away in our busy lives. Instead, we should think of his death as if we are at the foot of the cross in that moment.
Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 11:26, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.” Communion should be a lively statement, a way to join in what Jesus did.
The Fear of the Lord: Real and Present
Fearing God might seem old-fashioned today, but it is important in the Bible. The fear of the Lord is not just being scared, but it is respect, awe, and understanding how holy He is.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” This fear comes not from being scared, but from knowing who God is—the maker, keeper, and judge of all things.
The fear of the Lord connects to how we view His death on the cross. Jesus death was not just a mistake or a little thing; it was the big, loving act from a holy and good God who took our punishment. When we understand this, it brings real fear. This fear is not about being hurt, but is a deep respect for God's holiness and the weight of what he did through Christ.
Hebrews 10:31 says, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” The fear of God helps us from taking his kindness for granted, and it makes us want to live in a way that makes him happy. The fear of the Lord protects us from forgetting what his sacrifice mean—it stops us from treating his death like it doesn’t matter.
A New Respectful Heart
To really live out these truths, we must always be careful of being formal and remember Jesus death like it is happening now. It is not a story to get too comfortable with or let it fade into our souls. It is the story of our saving, and it needs our focus and respect. We also need to grow in our fear of the Lord—respect, awe, and a true honor for God’s holiness.
Psalm 34:9 says, “Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!” This fear is a source of protection, wisdom, and happiness. It helps us walk in God’s love and always remind us of the cost of our saving, and continually honor the one who gave his life for us.