What do you and I fear?
Are we content in our lives or are we daily striving for perfection?
1 John 4:18 says, “There is NO fear in love, but PERFECT LOVE casts out fear.” David Wilkerson wrote some years ago – “Perfect love begins with abundant and generous love for one another.”
John said in 1 John 4:12 – “If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is PERFECTED in us.” I’m sure we all strive to be perfect in our thoughts and actions, but somehow, we do fail often, which is natural as “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 2:23
John wrote that if we desire to be faultless and pure, we need to deal with our relationships with others. Verse 11 of 1 John 4 says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought to love one another.” Perhaps it is difficult to forgive those who have persecuted us or said bad things against us. Maybe we feel inferior when we compare ourselves to others in our church or even outside the church. CHRIST and Him alone is our perfection.
We need not fear the attitudes or critical words of others towards us. God’s love is enough. Verse 18 continues – “The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” If we fear the future or eternity, we can remind ourselves of Christ’s love. He gave Himself on the Cross for our sins and He arose again and conquered death and fears, so that when we surrender ourselves totally to Him, He can drive out all the stress and anxieties that so easily beset us. His love overcomes all doubts and worries.
NOTHING can separate us from Father God’s love! Romans 8:38 + 39 assure us – “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Maybe you lack finances or resources. God’s Word tells us in Heb. 13:5-6, “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, “I WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU.” So, we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”
Abba Father’s love holds us fast. His love protects us and provides for us. When we abide and remain in His love, THAT love overpowers us and gives us peace.
Precious Father God, Thank You that Your love drives out all fear. Thank You that I can run to You at any time of the day or night, and that You will hear my prayers.
Thank You that I can depend upon You to never abandon me, but that You keep me safe in Your hands of love. I love You and thank You for being a Father of love. In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.
Myrtle Turunen