A Call to Recover Reverence, Holiness and Obedience
“If then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear?”
—Malachi 1:6, KJV
There is a disturbing condition in the Church today: we still worship God, but we no longer fear Him.
Israel had priests, sacrifices and an altar, yet God was asking, “Where is my fear?”
They brought the blind, lame and sick as sacrifices—things they would never have offered to an earthly governor.
“Offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee?”
—Malachi 1:8, KJV
The altar remained, but the awe was gone.
That is the danger of familiarity. We can become so accustomed to holy things that they cease to be holy to us.
We can read the Bible without trembling, pray without attention, sing without worship, preach without obedience and serve God without consecration.
THE QUESTION IS PERSONAL
God asks:
“If I be a Father, where is mine honour?”
We call Him Father—but do we honour Him?
We call Him Lord—but do we obey Him?
We call Him Master—but do we fear Him?
Jesus said:
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?”
—Luke 6:46, KJV
The evidence that we fear God is not how loudly we worship in public, but how faithfully we obey in private.
Joseph understood this.
When temptation came, he said:
“How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”
—Genesis 39:9, KJV
Joseph was not primarily afraid of being discovered. He was afraid of displeasing God.
That is the fear of God.
“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil.”
—Proverbs 8:13, KJV
WHEN THE FEAR DISAPPEARS
When the fear of God disappears:
Worship becomes performance.
Ministry becomes self-promotion.
Grace becomes an excuse for compromise.
Correction becomes offensive.
Secret sin becomes acceptable.
Obedience becomes optional.
But Scripture says:
“By the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.”
—Proverbs 16:6, KJV
The fear of God asks a different question.
Not:
“How close can I get to sin?”
But:
“How close can I walk with God?”
THE WAY BACK
We must recover reverence.
We must return to prayer, obedience, holiness, integrity and the giving of God our first and best—not our leftovers.
“But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.”
—Psalm 130:4, KJV
Grace does not make holiness unnecessary.
Grace makes holiness possible.
FINAL CHARGE
Before we complain that the world has lost the fear of God, let us examine our own altar.
Where is His fear in our private life?
Where is His fear in our business?
Where is His fear when nobody is watching?
Where is His fear when obedience becomes costly?
And hear again the question of the Lord:
«“If then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear?”
—Malachi 1:6, KJV»
The altar may still be standing.
The songs may still be rising.
The prayers may still be offered.
But has the awe departed?
Let us return to the fear of God.