Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose. They will live in prosperity, and their children will inherit the Promised Land. Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant. Palm 25: 12- 14 NLT
Friendship with God is reserved for those who fear God? What kind of logic is that? I am not friends with anyone that I am afraid of. Can you be friends and still be fearful of someone else? Does this mean no one is friends with God? Certainly there are those who do fear God but they seem more horse-whipped than friendly.
It is in friendship that we learn all the other person's secrets. It is the same with God. When we are friends with God, we learn the secrets of God's covenant. We grow closer to God and closer to obeying God's commandments.
Being friends with God should be a goal for Christians, right? But perhaps because God is God, then fear needs to come before friendliness. God is not just another person. There should be some kind of Holy barrier between us and God. We should look at God with awe rather than contempt or judgment (as we tend to do with some of our friends). Fear is a good way of putting that Holy barrier up.
God, we want to be your friend. We have a hard time really fearing you, yet you ask us to look to you in awe and trembling. You do hold our eternal lives in your hands. Thank you for Jesus who give us access to you and makes our friendship possible. In his name we pray. Amen.
Copyright 2011 Amelia G. Sims
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