"THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH." Joseph walked with God, and the Lord raised him from prison to the palace. Nevertheless, Joseph remained a God-fearing man. So he said to his brethren when he sent them home with provisions to their anxious father, "I fear God." So may we say whenever tempted to act unbecoming of our Christian character. The true fear of God springs from love, and is deepened and strengthened by filial fellowship with God. It is not a dread of His majesty, but a fear to offend or grieve His heart. It is produced by the Holy Spirit, and is a great preventive to sin. If I fear to offend God, I shall certainly strive to please Him. If I love Him, I shall fear to offend Him. This fear makes us cautious, careful, and watchful. It will often lead us to prayer. It will prompt us to self-examination. It will lead us to compare our conduct with God's word. It will preserve us from presumption, levity, and dishonesty. He that fears God will not go in the way of sinners, stand in the counsel of the ungodly, or sit in the seat of the scornful; but his delight will be in the word of God, and in His word will he meditate day and night. Has the fear of God influenced us this day? Have we said by our conduct, in our dealings with our fellow men, "I fear God"?

For Meditation:
The fear of God is life
To warm as well as light;
Makes mercy sweet, salvation great,
And all God's judgments right.