Fear of the LORD
BlueAlthough the Goodness of God effectively lead Simon Peter to repentance (Ro 2:4; Lk 5:8), God uses more than one way to reach people because people respond differently. Not everyone had the privilege of a healthy upbringing. In Jude 23 Greek #5401 phobos is used. This word describes fear, and means to be put in fear or alarm. It's to be afraid. There is bad fear... which is the spirit of fear. Then there is the fear of the LORD... and i believe the suggestion in Jude is to use the fear of the LORD on certain persons because that is what will actually make them understand the hell they don't want!
v22 And on some (who are doubting - like Peter had been), have compassion, making a distinction; v23 but others save with fear (5401), pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh.
After 7 1/2 hours of painting today over at the rehab, am feeling a little tired but did get to meet the neighbor guy and learned from today's conversation with him and yesterday's conversation with the other neighbor, just how different people can think.
Somehow this friendly guy brought up drugs and how you have to call the cops on the dealers, so i mentioned how my sister died of drugs... starting first with pot, then hash, then angel dust, then suddenly he interjected how bad herion was and i said, "Yep! She died at 36. Them drugs are no good for you." But after he condemned the drug dealers and when he heard me mention pot and hash, he had admitted that a little pot, a little hash wasn't bad, a little opium... but he stayed away from the hard drugs (heroin, crystal meth).
I was shocked (they don't let me out much so i'm not used to people... just kidding! But honestly, my life is sheltered pretty much ever since Jesus called me out of darkness into His Light so i'm getting out more into society as a sent one)... but i thought, dear God, this guy, this very likeable and friendly guy can't see the irony of his speech and neither could the neighbor lady yesterday when she told of having lived in New Orleans and loved it but that it was the alcohol capitol because of having so many young alcoholics, and in speech she looked down on this behavioral stat but then every time i've seen her son he has a beer in his hand, even at 9 in the morning or whatever morning hour that was... Then you can't help but ponder on how nobody seems to have a revelation of hell anymore... not a real good one of heaven or hell because if so then where is the Fear of the LORD... why aren't we afraid to sin? Satan didn't create hell friends, God did... so just think about that for a few minutes~
Both of these people have things about them that you will like... one is 66 years old but you can't tell it, and the guy too is older than me; both love to talk, love to tell stories... so now i'm wondering what can i do to help them find Jesus? It is hard for me to believe an old person can be easily uprooted from one lying belief system into thinking Jesus is the way to go, especially if they've ever heard the gospel and so i'm not one to jump the gun and start in on how you need Jesus, strategy is important to me. Besides, they are friendlier than me and this is very Christlike to be so welcoming... so it's not that i am better than they are but i do feel more privileged when it comes to being born again... but if i can't lead them to Jesus then at least i want to do what i can to bring more of His Kingdom here... Matthew 6:10...i'm a die hard for this Scripture and my other favorite alongside of it is how the kingdoms of this world have become the Kingdoms of our LORD Christ, past-tense. Would love to share for 3 to 6 hours about what i'm thinking right now BUT it's time to get some rest, got another very busy day tomorrow!
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