FAITH AND FEAR GO HAND IN HAND!

"Thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear." —Romans 11:20 [KJV]

So we are called upon by the spirit of prophesy, "Behold, (give the most earnest attention, let this truth sink deep in your hearts) his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him" -Habakkuk 2:4. Standing by faith, and living by faith, are ever opposed to pride, vain confidence, and an high conceit of our own attainments. True faith in Jesus sinks the soul in humility, works by real love to God, is accompanied with a child-like fear of offending Him, and excites to a godly jealousy over our own souls, lest we fall—fall into sin, fall away from the hope of the gospel, fall from the precious privileges of Jesus, and the comforting sense of His love. Without this, what is profession, but an empty name, talking ever so highly, but a sound of words, pretension to the greatest things, but a vain shadow, while the substance is not enjoyed?

It is the glorying of believers in Jesus that they are "delivered out of the hands of their enemies, that they might serve God in holiness and righteousness all the days of their life,"—Luke 1:74, 75—and it is added, "without fear." But are we to cast off all kind of fear of God? No verily: no more than faith in Him, love to Him, and hope of enjoying Him. One would dread such a state most of all, the Lord Himself being judge. "Know therefore, and see that it is an evil and bitter thing, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that MY FEAR is not in thee, saith the LORD God of Hosts"—Jeremiah 2:19.

Glory to Jesus, by his grace the bands of legal bondage are broken asunder; the cords of slavish fear, of wrath and hell, we cast from us: yet faith and fear go hand in hand. And this is the blessedness of everlasting love and new covenant grace, "I, saith Jehovah, will put My fear in their hearts, that they shall not depart from Me. So shall they fear Me for ever for their good"—Jeremiah 32:40. This is the precious fear the apostle exhorts to, which is ever to be cherished in the heart, and attended to in one's daily walk. A fear of departing from the Lord Jesus tends to keep the soul close to Him. Fear of offending causes watchfulness. Hope in a sin-pardoning God produceth fear; a sense of pardon increaseth it. "There is forgiveness with Thee; that Thou mayest be feared."—Psalm 130:4. "Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief."—Proverbs 28:14.

Forbid it, Lord, that I forget, My standing is by faith; This ever humbles at Thy feet, Well pleas'd at what Thou saith.

If I withdraw my trust from Thee, I soon high-minded grow: Forget Thy fear, grow proud in self, So prove I nothing know.

-William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)

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