Monday, December 1
It is God’s will that your honorable lives should silence those ignorant people who make foolish accusations against you. For you are free, yet you are God’s slaves, so don’t use your freedom as an excuse to do evil. Respect everyone, and love the family of believers. Fear God, and respect the king. (1 Peter 2:15-17)
In just two words, “Fear God,” Peter invites us into one of the most foundational postures of the Christian life, namely, reverent awe. This isn’t the kind of fear that makes you run and hide. It’s the kind that causes you to bow low in worship, in surrender, in holy silence. It’s that deep recognition that God is not your equal. He is not to be trifled with, negotiated with, or used for your convenience. He is holy, sovereign, all-powerful, and yet lovingly near.
To fear God means to live with a continual awareness of His presence, His standards, and His authority over your life. It means choosing obedience even when no one is watching, because you know He is. It means turning away from sin, not just because it’s wrong, but because it dishonors the One you revere.
So many today live with casual spirituality, treating God like an accessory. But Peter is reminding the believers that honoring God must be central. In a culture that pressures you to compromise, the fear of God becomes an anchor. It keeps your soul rooted when storms of temptation and opposition rage.
Doing the Word
Fear God.
Prayer
Dear Father, teach me to fear You rightly. Not with dread, but with awe and wonder. Let Your majesty humble me. Let Your holiness purify me. May my life reflect deep reverence, honoring You in thought, word, and action. In Jesus’ name, Amen.