God's Healthy Fear

My fear of God is warm though fear is cold,
for Scripture tells me I should fear the Lord,
and mixed with love, my fear of God is gold,
while other fears leave rust as their reward.

The Psalmist says to fear the Lord is good,
and adds that fearing God is His delight,
how sad fear of the Lord's misunderstood,
for fear of disobedience is right.

Our perfect God deserves my reverence,
my love includes respect for His great law,
a healthy fear of His just punishments,
my fear to hurt the One I hold in awe.

O God, I think of heaven and then I fear
of losing Your love there by sinning here.

                      -- by Pete Voelz       4/07