“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).
Fear.
We don’t like that word. We rarely use this word to refer to someone we love, honor, respect, and adore.
But, that’s exactly what the Hebrew word fear means. It means to love, honor, respect, adore, cherish. Loving, honoring, respecting, adoring, cherishing God is the beginning of knowledge and all wisdom. It is only when we properly “fear” God that we can order all other loves and loyalties in our lives.
Our world epitomizes folly. Our world fears and dreads cancer while laughing at hell and the idea of judgment.
How terribly and tragically foolish.
Love, honor, respect, adore, cherish…yes, even fear the LORD and live.
Praxis: Faith in Action 