Confidence in Obedience - April 1

Read Proverbs 14:26

In the fear of the LORD one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge

Reflect

What does it mean to “fear the LORD” and how does fearing Him give us confidence?

If you’re a parent or a teacher, or have ever spent much time around kids, you know the importance of setting rules with them. As much as most children hate to admit it, rules and expectations provide a sense of security for them. There is a freedom in knowing what to expect and what’s expected of you.

The Bible reminds us of this in Psalm 119 in which the psalmist declared over and over again just how much he loved God’s Word and His laws. For example, in Psalm 119:45, he wrote: “I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts” (NIV). The psalmist understood that when he obeyed God, he could live confidently knowing what God expected of him. He didn’t have to play a guessing game, wondering what’s right and what’s wrong. He could be confident that he was living rightly in God’s eyes because God had already told him how to live!

Today’s proverb says that those who fear the Lord have a “strong confidence”. The ESV Study Bible noted, “The fear of the Lord brings with it the confidence of lasting security and molds a person’s character to follow the right path.”

But what does it mean to “fear the LORD”? Well, that depends on your standing with God. Those who are not believers in Christ are facing God’s wrath. They will one day stand before the Lord and they will be judged for their sins. If they choose to live apart from Christ in this life, they will live separated from Him in all eternity. God’s wrath is a fearful thing!

But as believers in Christ, we are not facing the wrath of God. As Hebrews 4:14-16 informs us, in Christ, our Great High Priest, we can now confidently approach God expecting mercy, grace, and help. Because Jesus took the punishment for our sins upon Himself, God’s wrath is satisfied with His perfect sacrifice on our behalf. So, the fear of the Lord doesn’t mean that believers are afraid of God. It means that we revere and worship Him as holy.

Gotquestions.org explained, “Believers are not to be scared of God. We have no reason to be scared of Him.  Fearing God means having a reverence for Him that greatly impacts the way we live. The fear of God is respecting Him, obeying Him, submitting to His discipline, and worshiping Him in awe.”

So, in other words, this proverb says that people who respect, obey, and submit to the Lord’s discipline, those who worship Him in awe, have a strong confidence. In fact, it says that even their children benefit from the safety and security of parents who fear the Lord.

If you want to live confidently, fear the Lord! There is freedom in worshiping Him. There is security in knowing what He expects from us. It’s like young children playing in a fenced backyard. They are safe to freely roam and explore as long as they stay within the boundaries. The fence isn’t a cage, it’s a refuge. The Lord’s commands are a shelter and a roadmap for us. When we live within His boundaries, we can live with security and confidence!

Respond

Lord, “Your testimonies are my delight; they are my counselors…my hope is in your rules” (Psalm 119:24, 43). Thank You for Your Word. It provides boundaries and expectations for me. It shows me what is right and what is wrong. It tells me how to live righteously. Help me to follow Your ways so that I can live confidently in obedience to You. Amen.

Reveal

Our obedience to Lord reveals His righteousness to those around us. Prayerfully consider if you are living within His boundaries for His glory and your good. If not, what area/s of your life need to change? Talk to God about that today and ask Him to help you.