by steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the Lord one turns away from evil. [proverbs 16:6]
God loved us from before time began.
in that steadfast love he chose us before the foundation of the world to be his children.
in order to justify this choosing, he sent his Beloved Son to pay for our iniquity.
pleased in the sacrifice of his Son, he was pleased to call us to know him.
knowing him through his Son, we have seen his glory.
having seen his glory, we are filled with fear and awe of his glory.
in this fear and awe, we will turn from evil, and walk in his ways.
without this fear of the Lord, we cannot kill sin.
to turn away from evil and walk in God’s ways, we must fear him.
to fear him rightly, we must see his glory.
to see his glory, we must seek to know him.
we will know him by daily reading his word.
we will know him by daily praying for eyes to see him.
we will know him by daily listening to the prompting of the Spirit.
these things that we do, that we strive for, that we seek with all our might…these things do not save us. but we do them because of his steadfast love, and choosing, and justifying, and calling, and saving. we do them because he says if we are his, we will do them. we do them because the Spirit who lives in us causes us to cry out, “Abba, Father!” and long for more of him.
if more of him is not your aim in killing sin, consider your fear and awe of the Lord. do you really believe he is glorious? do you really believe he is worthy of your obedience? do you daily seek to know him because the Spirit stirs you to do so? if not, today is a new day! and his mercies are new every morning!
Father, your love is steadfast and faithful! give us eyes to see you as you are. please, Lord, show us your glory, and cause us to fear and love your glorious name, and so turn away from evil. may we seek you with our whole heart, and may our thirst be satisfied by drinking daily from the fountain of Christ!
~ arwen eastman