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Devotional Email for Aug 16

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Proverbs 1:7 New American Standard Bible (NASB)
7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;

Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

We should have a reverence, awe, and respect for God. Now we all know that God loves us so deeply and passionately that He sent Jesus. God is hungry to be intimate with us. God has given us His very best (Himself, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, forgiveness, and so much more).

Sometimes it can be easy to become casual with God. Now we should not "fear" God. However, we must have a deep reverence, awe, and respect for God. Because He is God.

Now look at the word "fear" in the verse we started out with today. That word comes from the Hebrew word "yir'ah". It has to do with the reverence, respect, and awe of God. In the Old Testament the word, "fear" was translated from 23 different Hebrews words. Unfortunately, we lose some of the meaning of those words in our English Bibles. If we read and spoke Hebrew and Greek it would change a lot of things we know and believe as Christians because we would be using the actual languages the Bible was written in. Here let me show you.

Exodus 20:20 King James Version (KJV)
20 And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.

This verse actually uses two different Hebrew words for fear. The first word "fear" comes from the Hebrew word "yare' ". It has to do with afraid, dreadful, terror, torment, and fearful. The second word fear is the word "yir'ah" that we talked about above. Let me show you a couple of other translations for the same verse.

Exodus 20:20 Amplified Bible (AMP)
20 And Moses said to the people, Fear not; for God has come to prove you, so that the [reverential] fear of Him may be before you, that you may not sin.

Or

Exodus 20:20 The Message (MSG)
20 Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. God has come to test you and instill a deep and reverent awe within you so that you won't sin."

Or the first verse we looked at today.

Proverbs 1:7 Amplified Bible (AMP)
7 The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning and the principal and choice part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence]; but fools despise skillful and godly Wisdom, instruction, and discipline.

When you read about the "fear of God" let it develop in you a deep reverence, awe, and respect. Do not be terrified of God. God passionately, deeply, loves you. God is hungry for a relationship with you.

Speak the Word: God I am hungry for you. I will not be terrified of you. I am seeking you with all of my heart, mind, and strength.