Hear!

 Come and hear, all you who fear God,

    and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Psalm 66:16 ESV

As John Newton, the former slave trader turned preacher put it, 'grace taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed'. It seems contradictory that we should fear God and love Him, yet it is possible. Because a child loves his dad, he fears to disappoint him: so it should be with us and God.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. The love of God is the heart of wisdom. There's no fear in love: in the end, God will assuage the fears of all His people.

We will fearlessly rejoice in our Saviour for all eternity. We can start right now. That's what He's done for me, the worst of sinners, He's saved a wretch like me.

If there's hope for me, through Christ crucified, there's hope for anyone. We need to fear God and the fact He had to sacrifice His beloved Son on our behalf. That's the only way our sins can be forgiven.

'Fearsome God, may we testify to Your goodness and love to all who will hear. In the name of our Saviour, amen'.

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