The Fear of God
The fear of God is that "astonished reverence" that Faber writes. I would say where from its basic element the terror of the guilty soul before God - to the fascinated rapture of the worshipping saint. There are very few unqualified things in our lives, but I believe that the reverential fear of God mixed with love and fascination and astonishment and admiration and devotion is the most enjoyable state of the most purifying emotion the human soul can know.
In my own being I could not exist very long as a Christian without this inner consciousness of the presence and nearness of God.
Men think they know what fear means. But we are talking about an awe and reverence of a loving and holy God. That kind of fear is a spiritual thing and can be brought only by the presence of God
When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, there was a great fear upon all the people, yet they were not afraid of anything! A child of God, made perfect in love, has no fear because perfect love casts out fear. Yet he or she is the person of all persons who most fears God.
The Presence of God in our midst - bringing a sense of godly fear and reverence - this is largely missing today.
The true fear of God is a beautiful thing, for it is worship, it is love, it is veneration. A high moral happiness because God "is".
True worship is to be so personally and hopelessly in love with God that we worship continuously, throughout the day. We do this by making everything we do consecrated to God, from the mundane to the extra ordinary. From the office, to the home. From the cleaning of the house, to the meeting of the corporate people, from digging a ditch to grocery shopping. Everything we do we do for the honor and glory that belongs to God.
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Higher Ground
~Johnson Oatman, Jr.~
I'm pressing on the upward way,
New heights I'm gaining every day;
Still praying as I onward bound,
"Lord, plant my feet on higher ground."
I want to live above the world,
Though satan's darts at me are hurled;
For faith has caught the joyful sound,
The song of saints on higher ground.
I want to scale the utmost height
And catch a gleam of glory bright;
But still I'll pray till rest I've found,
"Lord, lead me on to higher ground."
Lord, lift me up, and let me stand
By faith on Canaan's tableland;
A higher plane than I have found,
Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stay
Where doubts arise and fears dismay;
Though some may dwell where these abound,
My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
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Softly and Tenderly
~Will L. Thompson~
Softly and tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling for you and for me.
See, on the portals,
He's waiting and watching,
Watching for you and for me.
Why should we tarry
When Jesus is pleading,
Pleading for you and for me?
Why should be linger
And heed not His mercies,
Mercies for you and for me?
Time is now fleeting;
The moments are passing,
Passing from you and from me.
Shadows are gathering;
Death's night is coming,
Coming for you and for me.
Oh for the wonderful
Love He has promised,
Promised for you and for me!
Though we have sinned,
He has mercy and pardon,
Pardon for you and for me.
Come home, come home.
Ye who are weary, come home.
Earnestly, tenderly Jesus is calling,
Calling, "O sinner, come home."
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Beneath the Cross of Jesus
~Elizabeth C. Clephane~
Beneath the Cross of Jesus
I fain would take my stand,
the shadow of a mighty rock
within a weary land;
a home within the wilderness,
a rest upon the way,
from the burning of the noontide heat,
and the burden of the day.
Upon that Cross of Jesus
mine eyes at times can see
the very dying form of One
who suffered there for me;
and from my stricken heart with tears
two wonders I confess:
the wonders of redeeming love
and my unworthiness.
I take, O Cross, thy shadow
for my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
the sunshine of His face;
content to let the world go by,
to know no gain nor loss,
my sinful self my only shame,
my glory all the Cross.
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