Conduct yourselves with fear.

1 Peter 1:17-19, And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, say the proverbs. We live in isolation from fear for the most part, in our insulated lives. There is a value to fear which can become instantly real in the presence of a wild animal like a Grizzly bear. Even the thought of that kind of encounter ought to sober us up as the living God who made that Grizzly is infinitely more powerful. Isaiah, when he saw the Lord seated on a throne, knew that he was undone, and recognized his own unclean lips. The Lord provided cleansing for him, and He offers that freely now as we receive Christ. Even John, who walked with Jesus in the flesh fell before His glorified presence and Jesus had to tell him “fear not!” Do we recognize the awesome, infinite, powerful nature of the God who invites us to call Him Abba, Father?

Give us Your Holy fear that produces wisdom; thank You that You have loved us enough to send Jesus and that we are redeemed by the precious blood of the Lamb!

ESV Lectionary