One Means of God's Grace: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” Proverbs 9: 10. Are You Wise or Not?

A Devotional for

November 21

From the Pen of John Bunyan

Fear of the LORD as a Means of Grace

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight” Proverbs 9: 10.

Having thus spoken of the object and rule of our fear, I should come now to speak of fear as it is a grace of the Spirit of God in the hearts of his people. But before I do that, I shall show you that there are divers sorts [different kinds] of fear besides. For man being a reasonable creature and having even by nature a certain knowledge of God has also naturally something of some kind of fear of God at times which, although it be not that which is intended in the text. Yet ought to be spoken to, that that which is not right may be distinguished from that that is.

There is, I say, several sorts or kinds of fear in the hearts of the sons of men. I mean besides that fear of God that is intended in the text and that accompanied eternal life. I shall here make mention of three of them.

FIRST. There is a fear of God that flows even from the light of nature.

SECOND. There is a fear of God that flows from some of his dispensations to men, which yet is neither universal nor saving.

THIRD. There is a fear of God in the heart of some men that is good and godly but doth not for ever abide so. To speak a little to all these, before I come to speak of fear, as it is a grace of God in the hearts of his children.