Exodus 19:5 Now therefore, if you will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then you shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine.
God does not desire or require anyone to serve and obey Him out of fear, but only from a loving, willing heart that cultivates an intelligent understanding of His character and goodness. Fear has torment, as is written in the book of first John 4, but perfect love casts out all fear. Whenever you read in the Bible of “The fear of The Lord” it’s not usually referring to being afraid of God in the human sense of the word, because fear and trust are two things that are never compatible with each other, as far as a stable relationship goes.
Of course, it takes time for a person to appreciate the goodness of God, and therefore, throughout our experiences with Christ, obedience is a must. It is essential that while we are learning about God, that we obey Him, because your intelligence, and your understanding of God is only developed through obedience. In other words, if you don’t obey you will never be able to understand, because the human intellect is enlightened about the character of God through the processes of obedience, and this is how many dark sentences in the Bible are made plain.
But if persons were to sit on the sidelines, hoping to come to a good understanding of the Bible without intending to obey, the word of God becomes even more strange and confusing, and the mind will go around in circles, and become enveloped in greater darkness. In fact, a person’s ability to understand the scripture hinges directly on one’s intention and willingness to obey, and wherever this is not the case, the word of God becomes obscure and perplexing.
Daniel 12:10 Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.
May The Lord add His blessing to the study of His word. God bless!