To live in reverence before God is the starting point for true wisdom and understanding. When you recognize who God really is and respond with proper respect, your whole life changes. Many people think they can gain knowledge and make good decisions without honoring God, but they miss the most important foundation.
The Bible teaches that fearing God is not about being scared of Him like you fear danger. To live in reverence means you have deep respect and awe for God because you understand His greatness and power.
Today, let’s discover why living with reverence for God is the key to making wise choices and living a life that pleases Him.
Live in Reverence: Key Takeaway
- Fearing God is the foundation of all wisdom and the beginning of true knowledge.
Anchor Bible Verse of the Day
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
— (Proverbs 1:7, NKJV)
Here, Solomon is establishing the foundation for everything else in the book. He wanted readers to understand that all wisdom starts with proper reverence for God.
Solomon learned through his own experience that knowledge without reverence for God leads to foolish choices.
This verse contrasts two types of people: those who fear God and gain wisdom, and fools who reject instruction and end up making terrible decisions. To live in reverence before God is to position yourself to receive His wisdom.
Key Explanations
- Fear of the LORD: Deep respect, reverence, and awe for God, recognizing His authority and choosing to obey Him out of love and honor.
- Beginning of knowledge: That reverence for God is the starting point and foundation for all true understanding and wisdom in life.
- Fools despise wisdom and instruction: People who reject God’s teaching and refuse correction, thinking they know better than God, which leads to destruction.
Live in Reverence: A Reflection
As believers walking with Christ each day, we must understand that the fear of the Lord is foundational to everything we do.
To live in reverence before God means that we recognize His greatness, submit to His authority, and let His Word guide our decisions. When you start your day with this attitude of reverence, you position yourself to make wise choices that honor Him.
In Psalm 111:10, this truth is reinforced:
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever.
This verse shows us that when we live in reverence before God, we not only gain wisdom but also demonstrate that understanding by obeying His commands. Reverence is not just a feeling for it produces action in our lives.
Think about the difference between someone who lives with reverence for God and someone who does not.
The person who fears God considers how their choices affect their relationship with Him. They ask:
- Does this please God?” before making decisions.
- They read His Word to understand His will.
- They pray for guidance because they respect His wisdom above their own understanding.
On the other hand, those who do not live in reverence before God make choices based only on what feels good or what benefits them in the moment, without considering eternal consequences.
Let’s consider the example of King Solomon himself. God appeared to Solomon and offered to give him anything he wanted. Solomon could have asked for wealth, power, or a long life.
Instead, because he had reverence for God, Solomon asked for wisdom to lead God’s people well. God was so pleased with this request that He gave Solomon both wisdom and the other blessings he did not ask for.
So you see, Solomon’s reverence for God positioned him to receive incredible wisdom that made him the wisest man who ever lived.
Today, examine your life and ask whether you truly live in reverence before God:
- Do you make decisions by asking what God wants, or do you just do what you want?
- When you face temptation, do you remember that God sees everything and wants you to choose righteousness?
Understanding that we must live blamelessly as lights in this dark world begins with reverence for God. Just as we need an eternal view of life, we also need to maintain constant reverence for the One who made us.
Make reverence for God your default setting.
- Before you speak, think about whether your words honor God.
- Before you act, consider whether God would approve.
- Before you make plans, pray and ask for His guidance.
When you consistently live in reverence before God, you will find that wisdom becomes natural to you. Like walking the narrow path, living in reverence requires daily intentional choices that set you apart from the crowd.
Blessings..!
Call to Action
- Before making any major decision today, pause and ask yourself: “Does this choice show reverence for God and align with His Word?”
Make This Affirmation
- I choose to live in reverence before God, honoring Him with my thoughts, words, and actions each day.
Prayer Point for Today
- Heart of Reverence: Pray that God gives you a deep, genuine fear of the Lord that transforms how you think and live daily.
Let’s Pray
Our Father, help us to live in reverence before You every day. Give us hearts that respect Your holiness and minds that seek Your wisdom above all else.
In the precious and mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
My prayer for you today: I pray that reverence for God becomes the foundation of every choice you make today and leads you into His perfect wisdom.
