The Fear of the Lord 1

Monday 21 March
READ: Prov. 1:7
MORE LESSON: Prov. 8:13

The book of Proverbs 1:7, which is our text for today says, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. The fear of the Lord is living a life governed by the desire to only please and never to displease Him. This desire in any man births an abstinence from everything that is contrary to the desire of God. The fear of the Lord is the root of righteous living and the absence of the fear God is the cause of all evil that happens in the life of a man, society, nation and the world at large. If everybody takes God first in every discussion and in every action they take, what do you think the world will look like? The major problem men have is lack of fear of the Lord. Lack of the fear of the Lord is the reason men cheat on one another. It is the reason why armed robbers take other people’s things and sometimes even shed blood. Lack of the fear of God is why politicians go as far as killing one another to get into office and then take all public resources for self-gratification. The number one need in our lives, nation and world is the fear of the Lord.
The Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the foundation on which wisdom is built. This helps you to clearly imagine the opposite; the absence of the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all the foolishness in the world today. It is when men do things that are contrary to the will of God and despise the love of God and the Word of God that folly reigns supreme in the society. In the same way, where God is honoured, feared, respected and obeyed, things go well. When the principles of God are esteemed in a life and society, righteousness flourishes, producing fruits of wisdom and well-being.
I want you to check your life today and check whether there is a proof of the fear of God in the way you live your life. Today provides an opportunity for you to appraise your business, place of work, political office and everything you do and check the degree of the fear of God with which you operate. It is also time to pray for Nigeria that the fear of God will rule in the hearts of individuals, families, communities, leaders and the nation at large. Prov 19:23 says, The fear of the Lord tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil. The fear of the Lord is the answer to all the problems we have had in this nation and of mankind and the only way to reverse it is by accepting the Lordship of Jesus in our lives as individuals, families, communities and nations. Jesus in us is the hope of glory and the evidence of a God-life.

Prayer/Action
* Pray that the fear of God will rule your heart.
* Ask God for grace to be guarded by the fear of God in all your decision making.
* Ask God to forgive you of all disregard to Him, His ordinance and His servants.

PROPHETIC PRAYER
Good things will locate me this day and abide with me, in the name of Jesus.