Week 14 - March 31-April 6, 2024: Fearless Wisdom

This week’s daily readings:

Week 14 - March 31-April 6, 2024

This week’s devotional:

Fearless Wisdom

By Pastor Frank Albert

Scripture:

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
    and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
For through wisdom your days will be many,
    and years will be added to your life.
If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you;
    if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. 

— Proverbs 9:10-12 (NIV) 

Reflection:

A word that is often misunderstood from Scripture is fear. My experience with my own father as a boy deeply affected my understanding of God. The fear I had of my father’s anger was what I thought this Scripture was about. But I learned in later years that fear in Proverbs 9:10 meant “holy reverence.” 

Once while I was worshipping at church, I experienced what I would describe as holy reverence. The presence of God was strong in the room and many of us were on our knees, some face down on the floor. As I felt God’s presence rush over me, I was immediately aware of how sinful I was. His holiness felt scary and amazing at the same time. It was as if I could not do anything but bow because of how beautiful and awesome being in his holy presence was.

Scripture confirms this experience in the Old Testament and again in Revelation. The prophet Isaiah considers himself dead in God’s presence, and John describes the awful yet glorious things to come with visions we would surely find terrifying to experience ourselves. 

In the book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Lucy questions the Beaver about whether Aslan, the Lion, is safe to be around. Beaver says, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? But he is good.” Because God is good, our holy reverence toward him is met with joy and love. Wisdom will always find its origin in the fear, reverence, and knowledge of the all-powerful, mighty God of the universe!

Prayer:

Lord, I long to be wise, to know your heart and mind about all things. Teach me how to humble myself in your presence. Come to me now as I seek you. Teach me what it means to have holy reverence for you as your child and servant. Lead me to wisdom as I acknowledge you throughout my day. Be honored and glorified as I humble myself before you. Amen