The Fear of the Lord

S: Acts 4:32-5:11

All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need. For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles.

But there was a certain man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, claiming it was the full amount. With his wife’s consent, he kept the rest. Then Peter said, “Ananias, why have you let Satan fill your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some of the money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was also yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God!”

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. Everyone who heard about it was terrified. Then some young men got up, wrapped him in a sheet, and took him out and buried him.

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?” “Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.” And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of conspiring to test the Spirit of the Lord like this? The young men who buried your husband are just outside the door, and they will carry you out, too.” Instantly, she fell to the floor and died. When the young men came in and saw that she was dead, they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. Great fear gripped the entire church and everyone else who heard what had happened.

O: Dishonesty and desire for praise turned a commendable thing into something that strikes the fear of the Lord in the hearts of everyone in the church.

Jim Bakker was a televangelist who led the PTL (Praise The Lord) ministries but he was brought down by a sex scandal and then later put in jail for financial fraud. Later, a Christian leader, John Bevere, visited him in jail and asked him when he lost his love for Jesus, to have committed such sins. Jim said he didn’t ever lose his love for Jesus – he lost the fear of the Lord.

A: We tend to talk about the Love of God these days much more than the Fear of the Lord. Both are true. Fear of the Lord is not just awe, though that’s true as well. But Yahweh is a just God, though He is also merciful. I find it relatively easy to trust God’s love, but I must also remind myself of the Fear of the Lord.

As C. S. Lewis puts it through Mr Beaver's description of Aslan, “He’s not safe. But he’s good.” God is good, but He is not tame. His love does not make Him less holy or less worthy of reverence. I need to remind myself of the fear of the Lord—not as a rejection of His love, but as a recognition of His holiness and authority—so that I will turn away from sin rather than take His grace for granted.

P: Father, thank You that You love us. Help me to remember also to fear You, recognise Your holiness, take Your commands seriously, and stay away from sin. Remind me of this whenever temptation beckons. In Jesus’ name, amen.