Yesterday I wrote about the fear of the Lord being the beginning of knowledge and wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). Let’s think a little more about the fear of the Lord and the early church. What an interesting statement is made of them.

“Then had the churches rest throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, were multiplied” (Acts 9:31).

Did you catch that? The churches had harmony, peace, and blessings, and one of the reasons for this was that they were “walking in the fear of the Lord.” In our Daily Prescription for yesterday, King Solomon wrote to us of the individual who was on the journey for knowledge and wisdom which begins with fearing the Lord. Today Dr. Luke shares with us the journey of entire church families in that first generation of Christians. This fearing of the Lord is so important for each of us as believers as well as for entire church families. This is a good old fashioned heavy dose of recognizing what I am (sinful and in need of a Savior) and Who He is as the absolutely holy, omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing), omnipresent (everywhere present), gloriously awesome God. The response to this is a sense of awe, breathtaking awe in worship, reverence, respect, and obedience. It is the wholesome dread of displeasing Him. It is the shrinking away from anything that would offend Him or cause Him grief.

Preparing for tomorrow: Tomorrow you will have the opportunity and joy of assembling together with other believers to worship the Lord and honor Him out of awe, respect, and reverence (all of these are the fear of the Lord.) I pray that your service will be blessed indeed.