Thought for Today
Genesis 9:2 The fear and dread of you shall rest on every animal of the earth, and on every bird of the air, on everything that creeps on the ground, and on all the fish of the sea; into your hand they are delivered.
Deuteronomy 10:20 You shall fear the LORD your God; him alone you shall worship; to him you shall hold fast, and by his name you shall swear.
Psalm 19:9 the fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever; the ordinances of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
Luke 1:65 Fear came over all their neighbors, and all these things were talked about throughout the entire hill country of Judea.
Mark 5:36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe."
“Storm a reminder of city’s vulnerability.” “Fearing AI , parents take pictures of kids offline.” (Front Page headlines, Boston Globe, September 25, 2026)
“Storm preparation gears up as off-season nor’easter bears down.” (Front Page headline, Boston Globe, September 26, 2026)
I wrote about fear on Thursday, the 24th. Fear is again on my mind this morning. As I read my Bible, I am conflicted and confused. Am I supposed to fear or not to fear? Do I really and truly fear the God revealed in John 3:16-17? Should I tremble in fear of the Creator God who created Creation and who loved me (and y’all) so much that God sent Jesus among us to show us the way back home?
Fear is a complex emotion. I wrote on Thursday, “One of the first phrases I learned in Greek was μὴ φοβοῦ (may phahbou). It is a “verb imperative present middle 2nd person singular.” (Friberg, Analytical Greek Lexicon) The lexical form of the verb and its definition are: “φόβος . . (1) active causing fear, source of fear, terror (RO 13.3; probably 1P 3.14); (2) passive; (a) in a negative sense fear, dread, alarm (2C 7.5; possibly 1P 3.14); (b) in a positive sense respect, reverence, awe, (wholesome) fear (RO 3.18); respect for those in authority (EP 6.5)” (ibid)
Does the very thought of God inspire in your heart and mind terror, dread, or alarm? Or, does that same thought inspire respect, reverence and awe? One short, simple Greek verb capturing so many emotions. Is it possible to simultaneously feel terror, dread, alarm, respect, reverence and awe?
Or, should our emotions and feelings about God be situational? Should I properly feel respect, reverence and awe when I think about God’s Creation? I am continually amazed as I look at the world our God has created for us. The diversity of flora and fauna, the multiplicity of species, the riot of different shapes and colors all there for our sustenance, support and enjoyment. We were created by God for a specific purpose, “Genesis 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.” We can and should examine and discuss the issue of how well we have done our job; however, our purpose is clear. How can anyone feel anything other than respect, reverence and awe as we contemplate God’s Eden and our place in Eden?
I do not mean to minimize the current concern about the approaching nor’easter in our region. I have survived several hurricanes while living in coastal Texas. Storms have great power and can cause devastating destruction and loss of life. Everyone living in coastal areas or other areas prone to storms and flooding should understand the potential dangers and take appropriate action. Even some inland areas face the same dangers. Sadly, many in our nation were introduced to the Texas Hill Country through a sad event along the Guadalupe River and the tragic loss of life at a summer camp.
I know that Jesus’ own healing ministry evoked fear in some. As a Christian, however, I choose to hear Jesus’ words to the leader of that synagogue. I believe Jesus intends for us all to hear those words, "Do not fear, only believe." I believe we are also meant to hear the words of the psalmist, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (KJV)
Storms, hurricanes, tornados, forest fires all probably qualify as “the valley of the shadow of death” but we need “fear no evil” because God the Father and Jesus the Son are walking through those valleys with us.
Be prudent, make appropriate preparations, trust God,
Pastor Ray