Beyond Sunday: Restoring A Healthy Fear of God

Scripture Reading: Psalm 34:11-14, Psalm 33:8, Matthew 10:28

"Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the Lord." — Psalm 34:11

When you hear the word "fear," what comes to mind? For most of us, it’s a negative emotion—the jolt of adrenaline when we see a spider, or the anxiety of facing an uncertain future. Sometimes, we even ascribe intense fear to things that ultimately have no real power over us.

Because we live in a culture that treats all fear as an enemy to be conquered, it can be incredibly jarring when scripture tells us to fear God. In fact, Proverbs 9:10 tells us that this fear is the very beginning of true wisdom.

In this weekend’s message, Pastor Chris Rieber unpacked Psalm 34:11, where the psalmist invites us to gather around like children to learn the fear of the Lord. But there is a beautiful double meaning here: This is ultimately the voice of God our Heavenly Father, inviting us into His presence to teach us what a healthy, life-giving fear of Him actually looks like.

To walk in the fear of the Lord isn't to live in terror of a volatile deity. Instead, it means to acknowledge His absolute superiority over man, to recognize His breathtaking deity, and to respond to Him in awe, humility, worship, love, trust, and obedience.

Here are three truths from this week's message to help us restore a healthy concept of the fear of God:

1. Fear Can Be a Healthy, Protective Guardrail

We need to realize that fear is not always a negative thing. In the physical world, a healthy fear of electricity or a roaring fire keeps us safe; it breeds a deep respect for a power that can alter our lives in an instant.

Spiritually, a healthy fear of God means we live with a constant awareness of His presence and His power. It keeps us anchored to the truth that sin is not a minor infraction—it kills and destroys (Romans 6:23). When scripture pulls back the curtain on final judgment (as in Revelation 20:11-15), it isn't to leave us hopeless. It is a necessary reminder of our utter defenselessness before His absolute holiness.

Jesus gently warns us in Matthew 10:28 to be careful about what we choose to fear. He didn't want our "lower fears"—fear of man, fear of lack, fear of circumstances—to minimize our fear of God. When we have a right, healthy fear of God's intolerance of sin, it makes the Gospel of Jesus Christ that much more beautiful. We realize we have a perfect Advocate.

2. True Fear is Bounded by Awe and Safety

Psalm 33:8 commands, "Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him." Healthy fear is the natural byproduct of standing in front of immense, unrestricted power.

Think of Job. In Job 1:8, he feared God and walked faithfully with Him. But even in chapter 2, when his world collapsed and he was covered in painful boils, Job still feared God. He knew that God's character hadn't changed just because his circumstances did.

The beautiful paradox of God's power is that it isn't meant to crush those who belong to Him. David writes in Psalm 31:19-20 that God’s goodness and power actually act as a shelter. When you fear the Lord, His immense power is not a threat to you—it is a fortress around you.

3. The Fear of the Lord is Best Understood at the Cross

If you want to see the ultimate convergence of God's terrifying holiness and His infinite love, you have to look at the Cross.

At the Cross, we see the intense, furious judgment against sin that we all rightfully deserved. God did not simply wink at wickedness. But at the exact same moment, we see the harnessed, directed power of God working to justify us. We see the power of Jesus Christ perfectly covering our sins.

The awesomeness of God is on full display at Calvary. It presents the ultimate dichotomy: God has the absolute right and position to punish sin, yet He chose to use that same power to pay for, redeem, and pardon us.

Moving Forward: Walking in His Presence

When the early church in Acts 9:31 chose to live and walk in the "fear of the Lord," the result wasn't a paralyzed community. The text says the church was built up and comforted by the Holy Spirit.

Our Father is inviting us to pull up a chair, sit at His feet, and look up in absolute awe of who He is. When we fear Him rightly, we are finally set free from fearing everything else.

Reflection Questions:

1. Are there "lower fears" (the opinions of others, financial anxieties, or future unknowns) that you have allowed to become bigger in your mind than your awe of God?

2. How does looking at the Cross help you balance a deep respect for God's holiness with an assurance of His deep love for you?

3. What is one practical way you can practice living with a greater awareness of God's presence and power throughout your workday or week?

Prayer: Father, thank You for inviting us in as Your children. Forgive us for the times we have minimized Your holiness or allowed the small fears of this world to consume our hearts. Holy Spirit, restore in us a healthy, vibrant awe of who You are. Let the reality of the Cross remind us daily of both Your immense power and Your fierce love for us. Help us to walk out this week built up in the fear of the Lord and comforted by Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.