Living in the Fear of the Lord
Tuesday’s Verse:
From Proverbs 31:30 ESV
“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
On Monday in the New York Post, I partially read a story about Sunday night’s MTV Video Music Awards. But, of course, the pictures of the artists caught my eye. Basically, I started wondering why some women at these award shows wear such weird outfits. Granted, not all of them looked foolish - Taylor Swift’s outfit looked magnificent.
I started thinking about this. As a society, we look at many things. Looks, charm, success, being liked, and having a good presence. These things all fade away. You can charm someone for a little while. You can use your beauty to your advantage. But at the end of the day, these things will not carry you.
Proverbs tells us to look at something that will last. Fear of the Lord. Not fear as in cowering in fear of God. But knowing that he is God and accepting his mercy. Having faith in him and loving your neighbor.
As Christians, we shouldn't take this passage as telling us to be amazing and gain God's favor. We aren't going to gain his favor through charm or success. Even having faith in him won't save us. We are saved by grace. Through faith. Because of Christ. In Christ, God looked at us and had mercy. He forgave us and gave us Christ's righteousness.
When we live by God's grace, our lives start to change. We see this in the woman in Proverbs 31. She is blessed because she has the Lord in her life. By living a life of faith.
The Lord wants us to live a life that doesn't fade. Live in faith. Have a fear of the Lord. And live by your vocation. No matter what you do, you are doing it for the Lord.
✝️ A Prayer for Today
O Lord, help us to not look at what fades in this world. Give us faith that fears You. Grant us a strong faith. And allow us to love our neighbor in our vocations. In Jesus name. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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