The first gift the apostles received (referenced in Isaiah 11:2) was fear of the Lord.
There are two reasons to fear: out of punishment or out of love. If you love someone deeply, you do not want to hurt them in any way. You will do anything to avoid offending them. That's what fear of the Lord is: a childlike fear, rooted in love.
This fear of the Lord gave the apostles a deep knowledge of God as Father. They had the experience, through the power of the Spirit, of being sons of God, and they would do nothing to offend their Father. It drove them, and hopefully will drive us, to imitate the Father's mercy and compassion.
This spiritual gift informs us that God is truly our Father and enables us to look upon all mankind as brothers and sisters, children of the same Father. We have the same concern for our brothers and sisters as the Father has. Without taking this leap, taking this spiritual step, there can be no other. This gift enables us to rise above our human nature. It teaches us to love like God loves.
The fear of the Lord even elevates temptation. Temptation ceases to be negative, but becomes positive. You no longer think: I can't do this because I'll go to hell or I'll get caught. No. You now refrain from doing wrong because you love our Father and our Father would be displeased. It's about love and it frees you.
This gift of the fear of the Lord is like an aid to keeping the first commandment to love God the Father with our whole heart and mind and soul and strength.
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