Goodness of God

May 22, 2017

Devotions:

        “If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.” ‭Psalms‬ ‭130:3-4‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        So often in Christianity we think that the fear of the Lord is an expectation of judgement and punishment.  When bad things happen to us we think it is because the Lord is punishing us.  But this verse says first that the Lord does not mark iniquities.  God is not holding our iniquities against us but He has dealt with them in Jesus.  The second statement seems contiridictory, God forgives that He may be feared.  So the word fear must have two different meanings.  The first is the knee jerk, fear of punishment for wrong doing. 

        “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” ‭1 John‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭KJV‬‬

        According to First John there is no place for that type of fear for the Christian.  We are to be secure in the love that God has for us. The second type of fear is to reverence. The Psalmist is referring to that type of fear when he says that we are forgiven that we might fear the Lord.  When we truly believe that we are forgiven through the sacrifice of Jesus that we did not ask for or even want but God in His great love for us sent Jesus anyway to be our Savior.  This love produces a reverence and honor from us to God. 

        Romans 2:4 says that it is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  It is not the fear of reprisal, condemnation or judgement but His goodness.  The more we know and understand His goodness to us the more we want to totally walk with Him. 

      “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.” ‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬ ‭KJV‬‬