Dear Josh,
Over the next several years you will spend much time gathering knowledge at school. Already you have learned to read. I remember just a couple of years ago when you were learning your letters. Education is a great thing and your understanding of things will greatly increase as you spend time studying. But, there is a truth that many people don’t know. The beginning of knowledge is not about knowing your ABCs or being able to count to 100. Real knowledge begins with fearing the Lord. Listen to what it says in Proverbs.
Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools a despise wisdom and discipline.
What does it mean to fear the Lord? I think in a nutshell fear of the Lord means having such a respect for Him that you are afraid to disappoint Him. Not because He is going to crack you if you mess up (though He may sometime). But, out of your love for Him and your understanding of how great He is you obey Him. If there are 100 things you need to know in this life the first one on the list is “Joshua must fear the Lord.” Foolish people despise wisdom and they despise discipline. Wise people love both. Foolish people don’t fear God. Wise people do.
If we could stand before Him and know how great He really is we would understand what it means to fear Him. Every person who has ever seen a glimpse of Him was absolutely blown away and they fell on their faces in His presence. They feared Him. They revered Him. The loved Him. They obeyed Him. They possessed the beginning of knowledge.
Love,
Dad
Letters to Josh is a series of letters written from a dad to his son Josh trying to capture some of the important life lessons he wanted to pass on. These letters are a bit random in nature but each is written to address a key issue in the development of a young man. These letters are written from a very imperfect father whose love knows no bounds for his son. These letters are shared with you (the reader) only because we hope that the things we are learning and thinking through will help you and your sons.
Photo by weegeebored
Life and times of the howitzers 