The Lord takes pleasure in those who fear Him, in those who hope in His steadfast love. – Psalm 147:11
Reverence is a rarity in today’s world of fast and flamboyant fame. Who triggers deep respect in your heart? On a human level, it takes many shared experiences for trust to be proven, and the testing of faithfulness is a prerequisite to labeling anyone you know “honored.”
Your faith is partly a by-product of recognizing God’s work on your behalf. You have tested His love by asking Him to save you regardless of your unworthiness and found Him to be full of salvation for you through His Son! Because He so lavishly offers you grace in salvation, you venture to request mercy for the wounds you cause Him and others in your human failures. As you are filled with His forgiveness and blessed with the presence of His Spirit, you find awe and reverence for Him, which the Bible also calls “fear.“ The natural response to knowing God’s character firsthand is fear and reverence.
While you are becoming acquainted with God on your faith journey, He already knows you, “For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He has set you up for success in your relationship with Him by nature of discovery. The more you seek to know Him, the more your heart will worship Him, reverently fearing His greatness and goodness.
Those that do not know Him cannot imagine the reality of who He is and will not understand your reverence. He must be encountered to be known. Pray that God will reveal Himself to those in American leadership positions this year, that they too may honor His name.
Today’s Verse: Psalm 147:11
but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 1 Timothy 1:12-17
12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. 15 The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. 16 But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. 17 To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
