Having reverence for God means having a deep respect, awe, and veneration for who God is. It involves recognizing God’s supreme majesty, glory, and holiness. Reverence leads us to honor God and submit to His authority in our lives. There are several key aspects of what it means to have reverence for God according to the Bible:
1. Recognizing God’s Sovereignty and Lordship
The Bible teaches that God is the supreme ruler and authority over all creation (Psalm 103:19). He is eternally existent, all-powerful, all-knowing, and present everywhere (Psalm 139:7-12). God is the Maker of heaven and earth (Genesis 1:1) and the Sustainer of all things (Hebrews 1:3). Having reverence for God means humbly acknowledging His dominion and uncontrolled authority over our lives and everything in the universe. We are to have a holy fear of disobeying or dishonoring Him as our Lord and Master.
2. Glorifying and Praising God
A posture of reverence moves us to glorify and praise God for who He is. Throughout Scripture, glimpses of God’s glory caused people to fall on their faces and worship (Ezekiel 1:28, Revelation 1:17). As we meditate on God’s majesty and grace, our hearts overflow with awe-inspired praise to God (Psalm 96:4, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 138:1-2). Reverence prompts us to proclaim God’s greatness, not just privately but publicly through worship with other believers.
3. Pursuing Holiness and Obedience
Reverence impels us to honor God with obedient, holy living. Since God is morally perfect, reverence means striving to obey His commands and reflect His holy character (1 Peter 1:16). It causes us to think, speak, and act in ways that please Him. We are to fear and respect God enough to avoid sin and do what is right in His eyes (2 Corinthians 7:1). Reverence motivates us to honor Him with life choices that align with Biblical principles.
4. Serving God Wholeheartedly
Reverence energizes us to serve God with deepest sincerity, humility, and loyalty. It moves us to live all of life before an audience of One, as an act of love and worship to the Lord (Colossians 3:23-24). Just as creatures around God’s throne serve Him day and night (Revelation 7:15), reverence stirs us to pour out our lives in service for His Kingdom purposes. We seek to honor God by using our gifts and abilities for His glory.
5. Submission and Yieldedness
A reverent spirit recognizes God’s higher wisdom and ways compared to our limited human understanding. Thus reverence means surrendering our will to God’s will, even when His plan differs from our own. Jesus modeled this posture in Gethsemane, praying “not my will but yours be done” (Luke 22:42). Reverence requires humility and trust as we yield our preferences and desires to God’s perfect plan. We honor Him best when we cling to His purposes, not our own.
6. Giving God Reverent Worship
Reverence shapes our worship of God. We are to approach God respectfully and thoughtfully, never flippantly or casually. Our worship should reflect His supreme worth. We honor God best when worship engages our minds, hearts, and bodies in praise through singing, prayer, focused attention on Scripture, meditation, and rejoicing in the Lord. We are to give “reverence and awe” to God as we worship together (Hebrews 12:28-29).
7. Faithfulness in Difficult Times
Reverence steadies us to honor God even in trials, unanswered prayer, or pain. Like Job after losing everything, reverence leads us to still worship God (Job 1:20). Difficult times test the depth of our awe for God. Reverence holds us fast to God’s goodness and wisdom even when we cannot understand His ways. It inspires patient endurance as we believe God will work all things for our good in His timing (Romans 8:28).
8. Living with an Eternal Perspective
Since God is eternal, reverence means keeping an eternal perspective. Our lives on earth are brief compared to eternity with God. Reverence reminds us to number our days rightly (Psalm 90:12) and invest our lives in what will outlast this world. We are to view pain, loss, injustice and perplexities in this life through the lens of eternity. One day God will make all things right, wipe away every tear, and be glorified forever (Revelation 21:4).
9. Waiting on the Lord
Reverence causes us to wait patiently for God’s perfect timing and trust in His bigger plan when our prayers are not answered quickly. David waited years for God’s promise of becoming king. Like David, reverence means “waiting in silence for God only” (Psalm 62:1) and allowing Him to work in His wise timing. Waiting heightens our awe for God’s sovereignty, power, and goodness in bringing His plans to pass.
10. Experience of God’s Presence
Reverence creates the inner spirit which allows us to truly experience intimate fellowship with the Holy God. As we humbly honor Him, God draws near to us (Psalm 34:18, James 4:8). Through reverence, we can encounter God’s very presence which fills us with “inexpressible joy” and the reality of His existence (1 Peter 1:8).
In summary, reverence means humbling ourselves before the transcendent God, submitted to His supreme authority, glory, and holiness. It impels us to live pleasing and obedient lives before Him, serve Him wholeheartedly despite trials or perplexities, and worship Him in spirit and in truth. As we stand in awe of who God is, we find our lives transformed by His grace and presence. Reverence is foundational to honoring God and living as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. It is both a posture of deep respect and an active response of obedience and service to the One “who is, and who was, and who is to come” (Revelation 1:4,8).