In my ministry responsibilities I have the opportunity to read books that are meant to minister to folks who struggle with things that aren’t that familiar to me. Yet I often find great insights for myself in these books. One example is Ed Welch’s book, Addictions – A Banquet in the Grave. I found this book, which is targeted to people with life defining substance abuse problems, spoke in significant ways to my own ‘small a’ addiction tendencies. Here are a few quotes that continue to resonate with me and challenge my daily wants and how strong they hold on to me.
A couple of insights on the fear of the Lord:
“The basic idea behind the fear of the Lord, however, is much broader than our modern understanding of fear. While the holiness of God will leave many knees knocking when Jesus comes again, a mature fear of the Lord is more akin to awe, devotion, and worship. It is a response that says, ‘Your glory is irresistible.’ ‘In your presence, nothing else matters. You are all that I desire.’ Furthermore, it is a response that is active. It does something. It is not simply a passive devotion; it follows Christ in obedience. It searches out his will and can’t wait to do it.” Page 162
“With these great blessings in mind, it is obvious that the fear of the Lord should not be thought of as a response to a tyrannical ruler. Instead, it is our response to a loving and generous father who wants to give his children the best of gifts. In biblical times, the father had two fundamental concerns. One was that his children learn to honor and respect him, upholding the family name. The other was that the children be blessed so that the family line could continue for generations to come. The fear of the Lord is best understood in this context. It is the way we honor our Heavenly Father, and the means through which our Father blesses us.” Page 164
On the temptation to find joy in things that God does not allow:
“One of the deepest deceptions is the lie that there is something good out there and it is better than what God gives.” Page 192
On the sincerity of our desire for help (when we would be happy to confess to God, but find ways to avoid confessing to others)
“If we easily confess to God something that shames us to confess to a friend, we are thinking too highly of the opinions of people and not highly enough about the holiness of God.” Page 198
And finally, on one of the marks of godliness:
“The wise and godly person loves to have God tell him what to do.” Page 278
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