God's Children #3

Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.



Psalms 34:11-15, www.solascriptura.com

Father, we know that King David was "a man after Your own heart" and that You did and You will greatly honor him. Therefore, when David speaks, we would do well to listen since You were his instructor.

David says we should learn to "fear" You. What sort of behavior would a person who fears You display? We know that You are a God too awesome for us to describe and that Your power exceeds anything we have ever known. Is to acknowledge Your omnipotence to fear You?

We do come to You in all humility and contrition knowing that our weaknesses are many yet You tell us to enter into Your presence boldly. How can those two circumstances be reconciled? Only by the blood of Jesus, Who was sacrificed for our sins and Who did so for our redemption, are we able, by Your grace, to turn our fear to love. You tell us that perfect love casts out fear. How else can we contemplate standing before You?

Help us today to speak as You, Jesus, speak. Help us to be filled afresh with the power and wonder of the Holy Spirit which enables us to discard the tendencies of our nature in exchange for Your Spirit in us. You tell us Your ears are open to our cry. Teach us today to not be mute before You or to be blind to Your Holy word. We pray in Jesus' name, amen.

Bruce Caldwell