[Discoveries] 06-20-08 Fear and danger -- Proverbs 27:12

[Inspiration in Your Inbox]

/*The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and 
suffer for it. -- Proverbs 27:12*/

There are different kinds of fear, and fear is used in different ways by 
God and by the enemy.

Fear from the enemy paralyzes. Fear from God motivates.

Fear from the enemy is based on lies. Fear from God is based on truth.

Fear from the enemy pushes us into sin. Fear from God pushes us away 
from sin.

All my life I have heard Christians trying to explain what "the fear of 
the Lord" is. Some say it is "reverent awe." Others say it is "dread." 
Others say it is "abject terror."

I would like to suggest that what it is depends on where you are. Let me 
use an illustration I've used before. When I'm inside my 
brother-in-law's semi truck going 70 mph down the highway, I'm very 
comfortable. But I am afraid to stand out in the road in front of it. I 
know that I don't have the ability to stop 40,000 pounds of metal moving 
at 70 mph. I would get squashed.

So, inside the semi, I am completely at peace. Outside the semi, I have 
a healthy respect for it. In the path of the semi, I would be scared 
like crazy unless and until I got out of the way. Same fear, different 
location.

So the fear of the Lord must not be mistaken for a desire on God's part 
to terrorize His children. Instead, it is an invitation to come inside 
at be at peace.

Be encouraged!
Dwight

You may freely post, reprint or redistribute this devotional provided a 
reference or link back to _DwightClough.com_ 
<http://www.dwightclough.com> is included.

Discoveries Devotional -- Inspiration in Your Inbox is provided daily by
Dwight Clough Ministries, Inc.
1223 West Main Street #228
Sun Prairie, WI 53590 USA
Dwight Clough Ministries is supported by your donations.
Visit _www.DwightClough.com_ <http://www.dwightclough.com> for more 
information.

Change your subscription: 
_http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/discoveries_

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/discoveries/attachments/20080614/7b6c9863/attachment.html>