What does it mean to have reverence for God?

Redemption Theology

TL;DR:

To have reverence for God means to deeply honor His holiness and to submit to His authority with awe and obedience. True reverence flows from the heart and is shown through our actions, which reflect His greatness.

what does the bible say?

To have reverence for someone or something means that you revere, or highly respect and honor, that person or thing. Reverence starts in the heart and is reflected in our actions. To have reverence for God is to live in continual awe of His holiness, power, and love. It’s more than emotion; it’s a posture of the heart that shapes every thought, word, and action. Reverence means honoring God’s authority and responding with humble obedience, knowing He alone is worthy of our worship. The Bible reminds us that reverence is inseparable from true faith. When we recognize God’s majesty and remember all He has done, our hearts are moved to live differently—to pursue holiness, to serve with humility, and to worship with sincerity. True reverence transforms us; it reorients our lives around the greatness of the One who is both our Creator and Redeemer.

from the old testament

In the Bible, we are frequently instructed to revere God, which can also be phrased as "honoring" or "fearing" God. First Samuel 12:24 says, "Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you." When we have reverence for God, it manifests in our actions as obedience and praise to Him.
The Israelites had many commands within the Law that stipulated reverence for God and for His dwelling place, the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle and later in the temple (Leviticus 16:2).

from the new testament

Jesus reminds us of the holiness of God and that we need to revere Him (Matthew 6:9; see also 1 Peter 3:15).
By placing our faith in Jesus as Lord, we become Christians and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who enables us to live righteously (Titus 2:11–12).
First Peter 1:14–16 says: "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"
God is holy, and so should we be. When we submit to Him, He works His good will within us (Philippians 2:12–13).

implications for today

In some Christian circles, there can be an overemphasis on the love and kindness of God without any attention paid to His holiness. God shows us His incomparable love and kindness every day (Lamentations 3:22–23), but as wonderful as those attributes are, we need to balance them by remembering that God is all-powerful and sovereign, keeping our hearts reverent before Him. When Job was in the depths of despair, having tragically lost his children and his wealth, he felt as though he had done everything right and did not deserve to have this happen to him. God responded to him in Job 38–41, showcasing His power and ultimate authority. Job had become prideful in being convinced of his own goodness; God showed Job that his goodness didn't mean anything in comparison with the power and goodness of God. Job was humbled and had his reverence for God renewed before having his heritage and fortune restored.

Having reverence for God means that we acknowledge His lordship in every area of our lives, and we obey what He commands. While He was on earth, Jesus was heard by God "because of his reverence," which lets us know that God will also hear us when we pray from a heart of reverence (Hebrews 5:7). How could we not have reverence when we realize that the God who created the universe is the same God that loves us and saves us (Hebrews 12:28–29)? When we recognize God's ultimate holiness and combine that with recognizing His goodness and faithfulness to us, the only natural response we can have is to worship Him (John 4:24). He is worthy of all praise (Psalm 95:1–7). We thank Him for the saving grace He has provided for us, receive His love, and acknowledge Him as the omnipotent God of all.

understand

Reverence for God is heartfelt awe and obedience that shapes our actions and worship.
All believers are called to honor God’s holiness and authority.
True reverence leads to humility and faithful living.

reflect

What do your thoughts, words, and actions reflect about your reverence for God?
In what areas of your life do you struggle to submit fully to God’s authority, and how can you grow in reverence there?
How does recognizing God’s holiness and power influence the way you approach prayer, worship, and obedience?

engage

How can we help one another maintain a balanced view of God’s love and His holiness?
How does true reverence for God change how we interact with others, both inside and outside the church?
How can we model reverence for God so that it inspires others to honor Him?

More Resources

Father

What are some of the key things to know about the nature of God?

God is infinite, holy, and self-existent—far beyond us—yet deeply personal, loving, and merciful. We can’t know Him exhaustively, but He has made Himself truly known through Scripture and most clearly through Jesus Christ.

Father

What are the attributes of God?

God has revealed many of His attributes in His inspired word, the Bible. God’s attributes are crucial to understand the truth about God, who He is, what He does, and what He is like.

Theology

What is the fear of God?

The fear of God is not about terror for those who trust in Him. The fear of God is about deep reverence, respect, and awe for our Creator and Savior that leads to wisdom, obedience, and a confident, loving relationship with God rather than dread of judgment.

Christian Life

We know we should honor God. What does it mean to honor Him?

To honor someone means to respect and esteem them. To honor God means to worship Him in all our attitudes, affections, and actions.