What does God’s love have to do with the fear of the Lord? We read, “Perfect love casts out fear,” because this kind of fear “has to do with punishment” (1 John 4:18). Those who trust the One who came to save us from our sins (John 3:16; Romans 5:1-8) are awestruck by His love. And, that love changes the way we relate to Him and to all that He loves. I have been working with a very practical description of the fear of the Lord, and I encourage you to memorize it. “The fear of the Lord is a constant awareness that He is watching and weighing everything we say, think, and do.” He is watching because He loves us, and God-fearing people are captivated by His love.
