I used to think "fear of the Lord" meant being terrified of Him. Always looking over my shoulder to see if I slipped up and was going to be punished. In other words, I had a picture in my mind of a harsh-looking person just waiting for me to slip up so He could chastise me.
Anyone else felt like this?
I felt the same, and to be honest still struggle with it.
I think it arises as a result of two things.
Earthly parentel relationships.
And being taught wrong theology that just confirms in your own mind that a beating is coming and even worse you lose your salvation.
The chastisement of God is often mentioned but never clarified.
If not then the person who is terrified as a result of parental relationship when growing up will feel that God chasten his kids with beatings.
Then what happens that one then ferns that they must be perfect, in order to not be beaten and also in order to be loved by God.
That focus just compounds fear, takes the focus off Jesus and what he has done for us and how the restored relationship with God should function.
Hebrews 12:6-8
6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
7 As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? 8 If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all.
If it gets to the stage that we need discipline then he does so because he loves us.
And when he does it is for our benefit.
To refine us and restore the relationship to a healthy one.
To me there is a remedy.
Firstly one who walks being terrified needs healing.
They need to be discipled that they do not need to be terrified.
God allows things to happen in order to refine us, in order to conform us to the image of Jesus.
When we get it wrong we keep a short account with God.
We confess it, acknowledge it and ask for help.
If we do not then he will chasten us.
But when he does he will give us the strength to accept it and endure it.
What we all need to realise it's that we are children of the Father.
He is perfect and his love is perfect.
We all need to realise and remember what Jesus said.
John 17:23
23 I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that
you love them as much as you love me.
Hope I make some sense.
I would be interested to know what people think about how God genuinely chastens his kids.