Hebrews chapter 11 is the famous "Hall of Faith', chronicling the lives of some of the heroes of the Old Testament. As stated in the title of the letter, this is clearly an appeal to the Jewish people, harkening back to their forefathers and to their times of trial in the desert. The author reminds the people of the need to regard the Lord with awe and reverence...a holy fear. This is a lesson that the church could stand to hear today, as we have drifted too far to the "Jesus is my friend" extreme, forgetting that "our God is a devouring fire". He is not a shifting shadow. He is the same God who was revealed in the Old Testament. The New Testament, and specifically Jesus, simply reveals more of Him. It does not negate what we already know. We are to love the Lord but also to fear Him. Doesn't parenting work best this way? One of either extreme...too much love (permissiveness) or too much fear (authoritarianism) is unhealthy. But when both aspects work together, a healthy relationship exists. So it is with the Lord.
Tomorrow's reading: Heb. 13:1-25; 1 Peter 1:1-2:3
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