The Fear of the Lordنموونە

God Is Not Your Buddy — Restoring Reverence

The fear of the Lord restores what has been lost in this casual, cultural Christianity: Reverence. We've made God so approachable that we've forgotten He is holy. While God is indeed a loving Father and Friend, He is also ourJudge, our King, and the Lord of Hosts. To reduce Him to merely a “buddy” strips Him of His rightful glory and opens the door to spiritual laziness and compromise.

Scripture never speaks lightly of God's holiness. When Isaiah saw the Lord high and lifted up, he didn't throw a high five—he fell apart under the weight of God's glory, crying, “Woe is me!” (Isaiah 6:5). The fear of the Lord brings a clarity that causes us to see ourselves rightly in light of His majesty. It produces humility, not familiarity.

This lack of reverence has made its way into the Church. We've replaced worship with entertainment, traded repentance for self-help talks, and approached God like a genie rather than the King of Glory. But the fear of the Lord calls us back to a place where we tremble—not out of dread, but because we understand the One we are dealing with.

A believer without the fear of God can still be busy with church activities, but their life lacks the weight of conviction. Conviction is not condemnation—it’s the gentle yet firm grip of the Spirit pulling us toward holiness. When fear is present, we walk differently. We speak carefully. We treat others with honor because we recognize that we are representatives of a holy God.

The fear of the Lord isn't oppressive—it liberates. It frees us from the fear of man, the need for approval, and the seduction of sin. Reverence anchors us in truth when the world is shifting. It gives us eyes to discern and the strength to stand firm when compromise seems easier.

The early Church moved in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit (Acts 9:31). These two dynamics are not at odds—they are friends. Comfort without fear leads to entitlement; fear without comfort leads to despair. But when both are present, the Church grows in power and purity.

Many are crying out for revival, but revival will not come apart from reverence. Before the fire falls, the altar must be rebuilt (1 Kings 18:30). Reverence is the altar. It is the foundation upon which God's glory rests. Without it, His presence will not abide. The fear of the Lord invites us to live set apart—not just for Sundays, but every day.

Reflection Questions:

1. In what ways have you been tempted to view God casually rather than reverently?
2. What areas of your life lack the weight of conviction and need to be brought under God’s holiness?
3. How does your daily life reflect the balance between comfort from the Holy Spirit and reverence for God?
4. What does rebuilding the altar of reverence look like for you?

Action Step:
Today, find a quiet space and kneel before the Lord. Not out of routine, but as a physical posture of reverence. Begin to worship Him—not for what He can do, but for who He is. Let His holiness shape your prayers, your thoughts, and your heart. Ask Him to restore the fear of the Lord in your life.