Reverence -

Fear is frequently used positively in the Bible to describe how people respond to God; Luke looks at what that means and why it isn’t as scary an idea as we might think. Laura Powell summarises John Flavel’s book, “Triumphing Over Sinful Fears”, here. Quotes used from Michael Reeve’s book Rejoice and Tremble: “The nature of the living God means that the fear which pleases him is not a grovelling, shrinking fear. He is no tyrant. It is an ecstasy of love and joy that senses how overwhelmingly kind and magnificent, good and true God is, and that therefore leans on him in staggered praise and faith.” (p.67) “[Fear] is not the dread of sinners before a holy Judge. It is not the awe of creatures before their tremendous Creator. It is the overwhelmed devotion of children marvelling at the kindness and righteousness and glory and complete magnificence of the Father.” (p.101) Bible passages that Luke read: Psalm 34 Psalm 66 Psalm 96 Psalm 103 Psalm 146 Isaiah 6:1-8 Luke 5:1-11 Luke 7:36-50 Luke 19:37-40 and Matthew 21:14-16 Matthew 28:1-10 Hebrews 12:18-24, 28-29 Revelation 1:10, 12-18 Revelation 4:2 – 5:14