I have a lot of awe and wonder when it comes to the bear.
I’m amazed at how big he is! And how powerful he is! I’m amazed at how clever and intelligent he is! I’m amazed how he blends into the dark so well that you can’t see him, even when he’s right in front of you (through the window, of course).
I also have a healthy fear and respect of the bear! I would never go up to the bear and slap it around and tell it what to do. No. You don’t treat a bear like that. Neither would I go up to the bear and pet it as I would my daughter’s bunny. No. You don’t cuddle and pet a bear.
This is just a tiny comparison of what God is like.
God is big and powerful! God’s greatness leaves us amazed with awe and wonder!
But at the same time, we are to have a healthy appropriate fear and respect of God. We don’t “slap God around” and tell God what to do. No. We do not treat God this way. Neither do we “pet and coddle” God. No. God will not be coddled.
“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.” – Psalm 128:1
I am blessed when I fear God and obey him.
God is great and awesome! And this great and awesome God wants to have a relationship with me. This is mind-blowing. To this end, God gives me clear instructions for how to walk in his ways so that I can have a relationship with him. All I have to do is obey.
Another example is deep waters. I have a lot of awe and wonder when it comes to deep waters. I love the intense turquoise blue of the deep waters. I love the way the light dances and shimmers on the ever-moving surface of the water.
But at the same time, I have a healthy fear and respect of deep waters. The deep waters are stronger than I am. The deep waters are more powerful than I am. An underwater current is flowing, regardless of whether I like it or not.
I am invited to participate in the excitement of bobbing on the surface of the deep waters … and to be in awe over the intense turquoise color and the light dancing and shimmering. But I am not in control of the deep waters. No. I am only a frail, tiny little human bobbing on a very small micro-fraction of the deep waters.
This right here is what it is like when it comes to our relationship with God.
God is great! God is awesome! Like deep waters.
And we are invited to participate in the excitement of understanding just a tiny little portion of what God is like. We are invited to “bob on the surface” of the “deep waters” of who God is. We are invited to be in awe over how powerful and amazing God is! But we are not in control. No. We are only frail, tiny little humans “bobbing” on a very small micro-fraction of the “deep waters” of who God is.
“Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.” – Psalm 128:1
We are blessed to be able to “bob” on the “deep waters.” What an incredible amazing blessing God has given us. And as we “bob” on the “deep waters” we have a healthy fear and respect of the greatness and the power of the “deep waters.” As we “bob” we must do so according to the ways God sets.
I am blessed when I fear God and obey him.
