When my children were growing up, they knew two things: they were loved unconditionally and disobedience resulted in discipline.

I’m happy to say there were very few times they broke the rules. If you asked them why they didn’t, they would say it was because they feared the consequences.

The fear they felt could have been a multi-faceted fear: the consequences for breaking the rules, respect for parental authority, the benefits for their right choices.

My children also knew that their heartfelt obedience would receive their parents’ blessings of more privileges, greater trust, and a strengthening of the loving relationship they highly valued.

Likewise, our fear of the Lord is rooted in the consequences of sin (Romans 6:23), respect for our Heavenly Father’s holy authority (1 Samuel 12:24), and benefits for making the right choices (Luke 11:28). Finding great delight in God’s law brings with it the blessings of privileges, trust, and a strong loving relationship we value more than anything else (Psalm 112:1-3).

Praise the Lord! Take great delight in His commandments which tell us how God wants us to live our best life.