Luther on Fear

1 Peter 1:17
So if you call God your father, live your time as resident aliens on Earth in fear and in awe. For he is a God who judges all people by what they have done, and he never plays favorites.

Luther wrote, "Peter is saying here that because you have a father who doesn't play favorites, you must live your life during the time of your Earthly existence in fear. In other words you should fear the father, not because of his punishment which is the way unbelievers and even the devil might fear him, but rather fear that he will leave you and take away his protecting hand, like a pious child might be afraid of making his loving father angry and doing something that might displease him. God wants to have the kind of fear that comes out of a relationship that starts with love, that we might guard ourselves from sin, and serve our neighbors as we have the opportunity when we live here on earth." Luther believed a sincere Christian had all of God's treasures and was always one of God's children and this is more than enough to do the work God called us to do. We can either live our lives on Earth always on a journey, but never arriving at our destination, or we can recognize that we are not where we are supposed to be, but we're on the way to that place God has called us to be. Luther wanted us to understand that as we walked along this journey, God equipped us with certain gifts, and certain ways that would help us and others become closer to Him.

Prayer: Father, you do not call the equipped, but you do equip the called. You have called us, now equip us to serve this world in your name, and for your sake. Amen.