What does it mean to fear God? I thought we were supposed to love Him.

Yes, of course, we are to love God, but we are also to fear him. But to fear God means that we are to honor and revere God to the point where we fear not to obey him. Let’s take the police as an example. We respect the authority that the police have over us so that when we see a police car while driving we automatically check how fast we are going. It is a healthy fear that keeps us from driving over the speed limit. Knowing that God is in authority over us and that God is God, the supreme ruler and king over His creation, we need to constantly be aware of His authority over us. Too many of us take a casual approach to God, thinking that God is loving, merciful and will forgive all our sins. And that thinking is correct, but we need to also look at God as a righteous judge who will judge the people according to the deeds they have done. God is holy and merciful. He will love and He will judge.

And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 10:12