The Fear of the Lord
Luke 1:8-12
Once when Zacharias’ division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. When the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. When Zacharias saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. (NIV)
When I was in the 3rd Grade as my family was walking to the car to go to church my brother gave me a love tap from behind. His brotherly bump sent my new newly issued, signed by my Pastor, 3rd Grade Sunday School Bible flying to the ground with a splat.
Immediately, my brother and sister told me that I was in BIG TROUBLE with God because I had dropped my Bible. I was afraid I had lost my chance of getting into heaven.
This was the fear of the Lord as I understood it at age 8, God was ready to zap me for any wrong doing. I thought having fear of the Lord meant to tremble in one’s boots like Dorothy while the Wizard of Oz boomed at her from behind the screen.
When the angel appeared to Zacharias, he was gripped with fear. I would have responded in the same way.
The news which God delivered to Zacharias was good news, not bad news. He had not done anything wrong. God wanted to use Zacharias to accomplish His work, to be a blessing to all of us.
It was not until I was in college when I finally understood that to have fear of the Lord meant to respect Him, to stand in awe of Him, to adore Him, and to worship Him with reverence.
When we come into the presence of God, we should be fearful, in a healthy way. I am afraid that too many people treat God as their best pal, their closest friend, their childhood buddy.
He is our Lord and our Saviour. He deserves our respectful reverence, adoration, and worship. Fear of the Lord is a good thing. If you do not have it, you should be gripped with fear.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, you are holy and righteous. Thank you for loving me. Forgive me when I treat you like the kid next door, instead of the one who died for the forgiveness of my sins. Amen
Bread Crumbs - Devotions for Life 
Amen!