Monday, September 14, 2015

In our last visit we began to amplify the second point in our outline: How to cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord. As you study God’s Word prayerfully it’s important to look for and expect to find some enriching and enlightening truth. Proverbs 2:4 says, “look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure.” This reminds me of how the prophet Habakkuk described his pursuit of truth in Habakkuk 2:1, “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.” He didn’t know when the answer was going to come, but he was going to stay there and look for it until it came. He expected an answer. The answer is precious like silver, but you need to look for it as for hidden treasure. There are no short-cuts. God gives the answer when we are ready to receive it and when He deems it’s best to give it. When that moment comes, “you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:5-6). In addition to these steps, you find in Proverbs 22:4 that humility is an important characteristic of the one who will be blessed by God giving him His answer. In a number of places throughout the book you’re encouraged to trust God to sensitize you and then empower you to avoid evil. It says in Hebrews 12:1, there are those things that hinder us in running the race set before us. They need to be cast off. God wants to bless us, and He will, if we cultivate a healthy fear of the Lord.