Good Fear, Good God

QUOTES FOR REFLECTION

“Young man, be of good courage. Care not for what the world says or thinks: you will not be with the world always. Can man save your soul? No. Will man be your judge in the great and dreadful day of account? No. Can man give you a good conscience in life, a good hope in death, a good answer in the morning of resurrection? No! no! no! Man can do nothing of the sort. Then ‘fear not the reproach of men, neither be afraid of their revilings: for the moth shall eat them up like a garment, and the worm shall eat them like wool’ (Isa. 51:7,8). Call to your mind the saying of good Colonel Gardiner: ‘I fear God, and therefore I have none else to fear.’ Go and be like him.”

~J.C. Ryle, Thoughts for Young Men

“Objection: But would you not have us rejoice at the sight and sense of the forgiveness of our sins?

Answer: Yes; but… ‘rejoice with trembling’ (Psalm 2:11). For then you have solid and godly joy; a joyful heart, and wet eyes, in this will stand very well together; and it will be so more or less…”

~John Bunyan, A Treatise of the Fear of God

“Without the fear of God it is impossible to say ‘No’ to temptations and evil.”

~Sunday Adelaja

“Let God’s distinguishing love to you be a motive to you to fear him greatly. He hath put his fear in thy heart, and hath not given that blessing to thy neighbor; perhaps not to thy husband, thy wife, thy child, or thy parent…Remember also…that this fear of the Lord is his treasure, a choice jewel, given only to…those that are greatly beloved.”

~John Bunyan, A Treatise of the Fear of God

SERMON PASSAGE

Psalm 128 (ESV)
1 Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
who walks in his ways!
2 You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands;
you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.
3 Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
around your table.
4 Behold, thus shall the man be blessed
who fears the LORD.
5 The LORD bless you from Zion!
May you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
all the days of your life!
6 May you see your children’s children!
Peace be upon Israel!