Human Response 259: Fear God and Keep Commandments

Deuteronomy 6:2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy sons, and thy sons’ sons, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.

Parents and grandparents respond to the Gospel by teaching both Law and Gospel to their children and grandchildren. They teach the Word in such a way that the whole family learns how to actually do it. This kind of teaching by word and example involves the proper mixture of discipline and mercy, Law and Gospel, fear and love.

The fear of God response is what preachers and prophets, parents and teachers, are after. Fear of God means simply faith in God. It means knowing and loving so much that we do not want to displease, disappoint, or offend Him. It means we believe God and take Him seriously. This fear/faith makes us want to keep His commands. We believe God’ s love and that gives us the desire and power to love God.

The fruit of fear/faith is keeping His commands, and the result of living accordingly will be prolonged days, meaning a useful, productive, fruitful, full, and blessed life.