90 Days of Wisdom: Day 16

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for;
through the fear of the LORD a man avoids evil. (Proverbs 16:6)

Here we find two aspects of living a guilt-free life: forgiveness and avoidance. Because of His love and faithfulness, God has provided a pathway to forgiveness through Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection. God demonstrated His love for us at the cross when Christ died for us. God demonstrates His faithfulness to us every time we come before Him and ask His forgiveness for our sins.

Forgiveness is a fantastic gift! But when it comes to daily living, and reaching our potential, there is something better: avoiding sin altogether. That's where having a healthy respect for God comes in. The Bible calls it the fear of the Lord.

Here's how the fear of the Lord can work in our lives. Yesterday I had to go way out to Edgefield, SC because my daughters' school's basketball teams were playing there. When I came over a hill, going into the town of Edgefield, I saw two police cars at the bottom of the hill, just past where the speed limit goes from 55 to 45 (I know a speed trap when I see one!). I checked my speedometer and made sure I was at 45. The reason was I didn't want to get pulled over, get a ticket, and be late for the games. Knowing that the police had the authority to wreck my day slowed me down. Now, I don't live my life afraid of police officers, but seeing them on the roads is a reminder to me that I need to check my speed.

The fear of the Lord is much the same. When we live with a consciousness that God is near, it helps us to avoid evil. The best way to instill this into our lives is to spend time with God every day... and throughout the day.