What's Fear Got to Do With It?

REFERENCE: Matt. 9:6-8 So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins." Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, "Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!" 7 And the man jumped up and went home! 8 Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen. And they praised God for sending a man with such great authority.

Observation: Christians sometimes stumble trying to understand what it means to "fear" God. Does it mean that we are afraid of Him? If so, where is the place for intimacy and tender care. Does it mean simple respect? That seems too light for the word fear, especially when it is applied to a being a incredible as God.

This passage seems to help clear up the question. It tells us that the "fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen". In other words, when they saw the demonstration of God's power through Jesus they were struck by how his power was utterly outside of their frame of reference. He is not us. He loves us, we can know Him and He can know us but make no mistake, He is not us--He is awesome in the deepest sense of that word.

Application/Confession: I take God so much for granted. I need to remember that He is powerful like this verse discribes, and I need to live in that kind of healthy fear--recognizing His "otherness" and His power.

PRAYER: Lord--you are great. You have all the power in the universe. Open my eyes that I can see how great your power is. Teach me to fear you.