Reading 26

Acts 12-15

These four chapters in Acts are filled with miraculous accounts of God’s hand. Peter is rescued from prison by an angel of the Lord. Almost the whole city of Pisidian Antioch “gathered to hear the word of the Lord” (Acts 13:44). Paul heals a man who was lame from birth (Acts 14), and the crowd calls Paul and Barnabas “gods” which breaks their hearts. In Chapter 15, Paul and Barnabas get into a disagreement. With so many topics to think about, it is amazing to me that one line of one verse is what captured my attention.

For the last two years, I’ve prayed “Lord, teach me to fear you.” I’m sure we can all think of times in our lives where we’ve prayed things, not knowing fully what we were asking for, or what the process would entail. Such is the case with this prayer. I moved to Spokane for Nursing school 1 ½ years ago, and little did I know that God would use my time in Spokane to teach me a lot of what it means to fear Him. Fear of the Lord has been described as “reverence”, or “awe.” I wasn’t sure what that would look like in my life. What does it look like for me to Fear the Lord? To come before him with reverence for his character?

I found a powerful picture of fearing the Lord in Acts chapter 13. In the Old Testament, Israel was God’s chosen nation. God blessed his people, often using other nations (Gentiles) to teach his people lessons. God’s regard for the Gentiles seemed harsh. He used them, but they were not his people. I would be bold as to say that Gentiles did not experience God’s blessing or love as the nation of Israel did.

With that in mind, I want to share with you Acts 13:16. In this passage, Paul and his companions have sailed to Pisidian Antioch where they entered the synagogue. Paul stands up in the synagogue and says “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!” WHOA! Did you catch it? Let me say it again, “Men of Israel, and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me!” Gentiles who worship God?! At this point, Paul has not yet shared the gospel of salvation through Jesus. The Gentiles didn’t yet know that God loved them too, that Jesus came for them too! No, at this point, they still thought of God as the God of the Israelites. Yet, this passages says, you Gentiles who worship God. These men, who were not receiving the love and blessing of the Lord, were still choosing to be in the synagogue, hearing about the God of the Israelites! Why? Because they knew this God was right. He was God of all gods, King of all kings, worthy of their worship. Regardless of how they felt, of how God related to them, simply because God was worthy, powerful, strong, true, they worshiped him. That is a picture of fear of the Lord that we all need more of.

To worship the Lord even when we aren’t experiencing blessings, to worship God even when life isn’t fair…that is fear of the Lord. Lord, teach us to fear you. Give us a more accurate picture of who you are, how strong, powerful, true, worthy and righteous.

Andrea

Reading 26 (audio)