This morning my reading took me to Acts 9 where I came across this phrase:
And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied.
I had to stop. In some ways this sentence seems like a contradiction. "The fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit." But this is the way they were walking. They feared the Lord. The believers had seen what happened with Ananias and Sapphira when they had lied to the Holy Spirit. They KNEW the fear of the Lord. Yet they had seen how Stephen was able to stand up to all the Jews and proclaim the name of Jesus and even while they were stoning him. He was able to forgive them AND ask the Father not to hold this sin against them. That is comfort in knowing that God is holding him right where he wants him.
The question arises do I know, believe and act on these two thoughts: the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit? If I were to be truly honest the answer is no. I take the Lord so casually that I go through most of my day without Him. I forget that He is living inside of me; going through everything I go through. He watches as I go about in my own strength not even checking in very often. Fearing Him? I don't think so.
And what about His comfort? In a crisis situation is my first response to cry out to the Lord? More often than not, no. I look for solutions and if none of those work, then it's time to pray. Even then it is wanting an answer my way, not trusting His comfort and realizing that He has allowed this special situation so that it might draw me closer to Him.
Yet these believers walked in the fear of the Lord and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. That tells me it is possible. And not only is it possible but it yields fruit. "They were multiplied." When I am walking in the fear of the Lord and resting in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, I become the witness He wants me to be. People will see a difference.
I was at a women's Bible study this past week and the emphasis was on the cross of Christ. One of the main things emphasized was God pouring His wrath upon His Son for our sins. We have no idea how great and offensive our sins are to a Holy God. If we truly saw ourselves in all of our wickedness, we would fear Him and fall at His feet, crying for mercy. But He has done that! The Lord Jesus took it all! How dare I think I know what's best! How dare I? I dare because I don't always see me for who I am.
Yet the Spirit gives comfort, reminding me I am forgiven in Christ. I have been made new in Christ. I am now seated in the heavenlies in Christ. All of this should cause us to love Him and worship Him more!
Oh, Father, open my eyes! Let me see more of You that I may fear You and worship You! Let me rest in the comfort of Your Spirit that I may bring You the honour and glory of which You are so worthy!
