Preschool
He staggered not at the promise of God (Romans 4:20).
Godly Awe and Reverence
Memory Verses
Primary
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith (Romans 4:20).
Junior
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God (Romans 4:20).
Background Scripture: Philippians 2; Hebrews 12
Lesson Scripture: Philippians 2:9-15; Hebrews 12:28-29;
Introduction
When we consider that God has always existed and that He created the world, breathed into man the breath of life and man became a living soul, and holds our life in his hands, how careful we should be to respect and honor Him. We are not even worthy to look upon Him. He is so completely holy, and we are so depraved that it is only by his love and mercy He bears with us at all. Our hearts should always bow down before his presence with reverence.
Key Verse
Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off (Rom. 11:22).
Lesson Scripture
Philippians 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
12 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.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.
Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Studying the Lesson
The passage used here for this lesson is from Paul’s letter to the Philippians and follows the teaching on how Jesus humbled Himself and submitted to death. This beautiful example of Him completing the plan of salvation qualifies Him for utmost exaltation by God the Father. Jesus is worthy of our respect because of what He has accomplished in our behalf.
First Corinthians 15:24-28 teaches us that Christ will reign as King of kings until all things are finally subject to Him in the end. Because He is subject to God, God will ultimately be all in all.
After Lucifer exalted himself in heaven and was consequently cast out, he tempted Eve and Adam to disobey God, and they fell from their first estate. Since then, mankind has been infected with the desire to exalt himself, resist authority, and disrespect the things of God.
Today we are given a choice to fear God in reverence and respect, but eventually the time will come when all people will bow before Jesus and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The wonderful blessings of God’s favor will rest upon us as we voluntarily submit ourselves to Him in humble obedience. We may choose to take our own way, but the consequences of that will be to later involuntarily bow down before the glory of God and be forever cast away. A godly understanding gives us the vision to see that we should work out our salvation in fear and trembling and in obedience, recognizing we are dealing with God. When we submit ourselves to God, his grace enables us to do what we do not have the ability to accomplish by ourselves.
The passage we are studying in the book of Hebrews follows an exposition of God’s methods of working with his people throughout history. He warns, “See that ye refuse not him that speaketh” (Heb. 12:25). We have been given the opportunity to inherit eternal life; we need to respect and reverence God because He will not overlook our disregard of his plan.
God is completely trustworthy. His promises are always kept and fulfilled. The fear of his judgments may be the motivation for us to begin turning to Him, but as we receive his forgiveness through repentance, we begin to love Him for his mercy toward us. “I love the Lord, because he hath heard my voice and my supplications” (Ps. 116:1). “He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings” (Ps. 40:2).
In the New Testament, Jesus intreats us, “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). As our love to God grows and we come to trust Him, we will obey and honor Him as our Father.
Practical Truths for Today
In mankind’s fallen state, with an elevated and conceited opinion of their abilities, men believe they can direct their lives by their own reasoning. They do not want to accept there is a God who has designed everything: the world, the universe, all things inanimate, all things living. Many would rather ignorantly assume it just happened.
But there is a Creator. He made everything with coordination and precision. He made the minerals and nutrients that support plant life. He made the vegetation that feeds the living beings that move about and populate the earth. Finally, He made someone in his image to glorify Him. God is the designer of everything, and He knows how it should function. Most of all, He filled the earth with his love and goodness.
When we understand the truth and the magnitude of who God is, we are filled with awe. How can He be so wise and so powerful, yet condescend to us and love us? His wisdom teaches us how we should live and respect one another so there is harmony and goodwill and so we can lead a happy, fulfilling, and productive existence.
He also knows all about our being: the physical balance that our body needs, the necessity of our emotional equilibrium, and that which will fulfill our spiritual thirst. He made us so that only with his indwelling can the vacuum in our lives be filled. For a Christian, it is hard to believe that man can come to the point he thinks he doesn’t need God.
Our admiration for God should cause us to trust Him. It should not cause us to think of Him as a hard, uncaring Father, as a tyrant who is looking for some excuse to make us suffer, or as someone who is trying to find some fault in us. Rather, He desires to help us find the secrets that will help to solve our challenges. He wants to guide us through the problems that came about because of man’s fall. He wants to fill our hearts with peace and rest. He is a benevolent Father.
God created us to be dependent on Him. We need an authority over us to be secure, and our submission to Him generates security in our lives. How fulfilling it is to know that there is One who has the answers to our dilemmas. We don’t have to know the answers to all our situations. God’s Word says, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally . . . and it shall be given him” (James 1:5).
How can we maintain reverence and godly respect in our lives? When we bow our hearts before God in prayer—recognizing that all good things come from Him, thanking Him for them, and seeking his help in our daily lives—it promotes reverence. As we daily feed on his Word, we view his wisdom and how He directed those who trusted and obeyed Him in time past. Our fellowship with those who love and obey Him encourages us to respect Him.
Godly fear does not cause us to hide from Him. It causes one to draw near to Him, to seek his forgiveness, and to seek his direction for our lives. It certainly produces a recognition of his judgments. If we refuse his mercies, live in disobedience, and take our own way, the promises of salvation will not be fulfilled in us. “For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries” (Heb. 10:26-27).
Questions
- Why is taking the name of God in vain so serious?
- What can we do to overcome being afraid of God?
- How can we explain that a loving God is going to forever banish to hell those who reject Him?
- Explain: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 9:10).
- What did Jesus mean when He said, “Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God”? (Matt 4:7). Are extreme sports a way of tempting God?
Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).