REDISCOVERING THE FEAR OF THE LORD

“Kids today have been born into a world that’s lost its mind.”
I think it’s more accurate to say: they’ve been born into a world that’s lost the fear of the Lord.

That phrase can sound strange. When we hear “fear,” we think of being afraid of the dark, or spiders, or maybe even your spouse. But the fear of the Lord isn’t about being terrified—it’s about reverence, respect, and obedience to God because of who He is.

When I was a kid, my mom had a cast-iron bell mounted on a post outside our house. When it was time to come home—whether for dinner or a chore—she’d ring that bell. You didn’t stop to think. You got on your bike and you went home. If you ignored the bell, there was a second call: my dad’s whistle. It carried for blocks, and the moment you heard it, your stomach dropped. You knew you had pushed past the boundary.

The bell and the whistle weren’t about punishment as much as they were about position and authority. We knew who was in charge, and we knew the expectation. That’s not far from what it means to fear the Lord. It’s not cowering—it’s recognizing God’s authority, His holiness, His majesty, and then responding with respect and obedience.

The Bible tells us that this kind of fear is vital:

• “The fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.” (Exodus 20:20)

• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Proverbs 9:10)

• “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7)

When we live with a healthy fear of the Lord, it keeps us from sin, guides us in wisdom, and humbles us before Him. It shapes how we pray, how we worship, and how we make decisions. It’s the difference between living on our own terms and living under God’s loving authority.

The early church understood this. Acts 9:31 says, “So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.”

That’s what the modern church desperately needs. Too many Christians—and too many churches—have lost sight of the awe, reverence, and obedience due to God. Without it, we drift into performance, politics, and empty religion. With it, we walk in wisdom, peace, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

If we want God’s blessing, His presence, and His multiplication in our lives and in our churches, it begins here: walking in the fear of the Lord.

So the next time you hear the bell—or the whistle—ask yourself: am I listening for His call? Am I walking in reverence, obedience, and awe before the God who is holy?