Fear of the Lord: Love & Generational Blessings - Praise & Pray (for others) Friday March 11, 2022

During this series on Fear of the Lord, we've learned that it is crucial to fear the Lord and not be stiff-necked. Those who choose to be stubborn with the Lord end up swept away like Pharaoh in the Red Sea and there's nothing good about that. By now, we also understand there are significant benefits to living lives that reflect awe and reverence for the Lord and His instructions. These include blessings, praises, favor, long life and healing.

Today, our verses of reference tell us fear of the Lord brings His love.

Psalm 103:11-12 - For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Psalm 103:17-18 - But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Now, think about what God said about Jacob and Esau in Romans 9:13 - Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.” Just to spark your memory on what happened to these two brothers, Jacob ran away from home with nothing but a staff and yet, became a forefather to the nation and people of Israel. He is an ancestor of Jesus Christ himself. Esau, on the other hand, became the forefather of the people of Edom. Do you know any Edomites? Where are they? They have been relegated to the sands of time - a people forgotten. The difference between these two brothers - without going into the details of their story - is that one valued receiving an inheritance while the other didn't.

As a child of God, we have a great inheritance. The many blessings that stem from the fear of the Lord are indeed our inheritance. We have to value them enough to do what is necessary to lay claim to them. Failure to do so could lead one to become just like Esau and his progeny.

Also, notice that the fear of the Lord stretches the resulting love of God past yourself. According to Psalm 103:17-18, it becomes an inheritance for your children and their children. Therefore, generational blessings become a result. And because God said it, we know it is true. After all, He promised that His word shall not return to Him void. Isaiah 55:11 - So also will be the word that I speak--it will not fail to do what I plan for it; it will do everything I send it to do (GNT).

We are under instruction to actually leave a good inheritance for those coming behind us. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 13:22 - A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. Fear of the Lord allows us to store up spiritual blessings for our heirs and doing so, in addition to leaving them a physical inheritance, puts us in alignment with God's will and word.

Fear of the Lord. What an interesting and promising tenet of walking with God. It assures us of great benefits and ensures blessings for future generations. And those blessings will last a thousand generations because that is His promise in Deuteronomy 7:9 - Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments. Fear of the Lord is the way to experience God's great love and bring an end to generational curses in your life as well as your heirs for at least a thousand generations to come.

It requires you put in the work and no, it won't be easy. But, the benefits...oh, think about the benefits. In that regard, let us keep our eyes on the Lord. Let us take the necessary steps to honor Him in awe and fear. Let us obey His instructions and praise Him in accordance with Psalm 103:2 - Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.