Read: 1 Peter 1:13- 21

Do you fear God? What does it mean to fear God? The word fear can be used in a few different ways and so it is important that we understand what it means to fear God. Adam and Eve were afraid of God after they had sinned in Paradise. They were scared because they had sinned, and they knew that God hated sin.

God still hates sin today. And because of our sins, God has every right to throw us into hell. That’s what we deserve. But God already promised Adam and Eve a way out of this punishment of eternal death. God already told them that he was going to send his Son to pay this punishment for their sins. With his precious blood, Christ did come, and he has paid for our sins.

Knowing this amazing love and saving work of Christ for us, we should live our life in fear, Peter says. This means that we should have a deep respect, deep awe and deep love for the Lord. We know that God is going to judge our works, we know that we deserve eternal punishment, but we also know that Christ’s precious blood was shed on the cross because of our sins. And this can only leave us with a deep love and fear of the Lord.

Peter goes on to say that if we fear God, then we must also live a holy life. We must act in a way that shows that we have this deep respect, this deep love for the Lord. We must aim to live a life that shows that we are Christians. By the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, the friends we have and the way we speak and act, we must show that we are children of this holy God.

Yes, we do remain sinful people.  And yes, God continues to hate sin, but we also know that we are forgiven in Christ and so we must live a holy life.

Reflection with your child:

What does it mean to fear the Lord?