Reverence: Honouring God and Others with Holy Awe
Reverence is more than courtesy or polite deference; it is profound admiration and honour, the proper response of the creature to the Creator and of one person to another made in God's image.
The Meaning of Reverence
Reverence is great admiration and honour given to another, a genuine holding in high regard, not a frivolous outward veneer of adoration. Nor is it a way of seeking favour / seeking approval or expecting some advantage in return. It is not the worship of another human being; worship is for God alone. The Bible says, “Submit to others in reverence” (Eph 5:21; Col 1:22).
Does my reverence for God show in my obedience?
Reverence in Worship and Obedience
Having a ‘holy fear’ of the Lord is a deep respect and honour for Him and responding humbly to Him. This will be outworked in worship, obedience and “Purifying ourselves from all that contaminates body and spirit…” (2 Cor 7:1; Eph 4:22-24).
The Bible's message to us is, “Give God the glory due to Him…Serve the Lord with reverence” (Ps 29:2, 96:8; Heb 12:28-29). God declares, “Those who honour me I will honour, but those who despise me will be despised” (1 Sam 2:30). If we reverence the Lord we won’t lack any good thing (Ps 34:9-10).
Worship is the natural outflow of reverence. When the Israelites gathered at Mount Sinai, they trembled at the thunder, lightning, and trumpet sound, recognising that they stood before the living God (Ex 19:16–19). Their fear was not mere terror but a reverent awe that prepared them to receive God's covenant. True worship never treats God casually; it approaches Him with gratitude, humility, and holy wonder.
Obedience, likewise, grows from reverence. Moses told Israel that the fear of the Lord was given "so that you may not sin" (Ex 20:20). When we reverence God, we take His commands seriously, not as burdensome restrictions but as the wisdom of a loving Father. The psalmist declares, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10), showing that reverence shapes how we think, choose, and live.
Jesus said, If you love me, you will obey what I command – John 15:14
Jesus Himself modelled this reverence. In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed with earnest submission, "Not my will, but yours be done" (Lk 22:42). His perfect obedience flowed from an unwavering honour for the Father. In the same way, believers are called to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is their true and proper worship (Rom 12:1).
Reverent worship is not about performance or emotion but about recognising who God is and responding appropriately. It involves listening to His Word, lifting our hearts in praise, and aligning our lives with His will. Where reverence is absent, worship becomes shallow; where reverence is present, worship becomes transforming.
Does your worship reflect reverence for God, or has it become routine? Ask the Holy Spirit to renew your awe and deepen your desire to obey.
Reverence in the Lives of God's People
Nehemiah's prayer is a model of reverence in action. When he heard that the walls of Jerusalem lay in ruins and its gates had been burned, he sat down, wept, mourned, fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven (Neh 1:4). His prayer began with adoration, acknowledging the greatness and awe-inspiring majesty of the Lord, and continued with confession—both of his own sin and the sins of Israel (Neh 1:5-7). Because he trusted that God keeps covenant with those who love and obey Him, Nehemiah appealed to the Lord's promise and asked for success and favour before the king (Neh 1:8-11). In this way, reverence moved him from humble worship to bold, trusting action (Neh 1:4-11).
How can I cultivate a deeper reverence for God today?
In some churches, the title Reverend [revered or respected one] is given to the Minister.
Reflection and Application:
- Begin each day by acknowledging God's greatness and your complete dependence on Him.
- Examine your actions: does your reverence for God produce obedience and purity?
- Honour others as bearers of God's image, submitting to one another in reverence.
- Read Scripture slowly and prayerfully, allowing it to shape a heart of holy awe.
See also: fear (holy), honour, respect, worship.