“Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…” -James 4:8
In our recent sermon series, “Wisdom that Makes a Difference: The Book of Proverbs,” we have encountered a common phrase that can be troubling for people of faith. Proverbs 1:7 reads, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The word that is troubling is “fear.” Why should we fear God?
Dr. Long has shared wisdom from his days in seminary when he was taught that “fear” should be read as being afraid of God, but rather being respectful and aware of God’s presence. The scriptures confirm, over and over, that God is with us. Consider these verses; “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.” (Psalm 137:7-8) “And behold, I am always with you, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
The foundation of our hope is that God is with us. God is not far away, simply watching events unfold. God is here. If we are mindful of God and the things of God, we will begin the journey that leads to wisdom that makes a difference.
How do we shape our day to become more aware of God? What do we do with our daily practices and disciplines to better open our eyes to the things of God? Richard J. Foster writes in one of my favorite books, The Celebration of Discipline, that the three big struggles of our society are “noise, hurry, and crowds.” It is challenging but necessary to clear at least a small portion of our day from these three.
A quiet place to be still will do so much for our relationship with God. To draw close to God, we must learn to turn off our electronics, sit still for a moment, and focus on the things of God. In these moments, we can pray, read scripture, focus on the cross, and so much more. When we are intentional about being aware of God, we will find the wisdom that makes a difference.
Rev. Keith King, Pastor of Worship
