“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has
to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” 1
John 4:18
What do you fear? Fear is a feeling that causes anxiety, unease, worry,
nervousness and much more. Fear does NOT come from God! 1 John 4:7
onwards teaches us that GOD IS LOVE. This love caused Him to send
Jesus to us, to take our sins upon Himself, and die in our stead, yet rise
again, so we have hope in Eternal life.
God’s love in us, helps us to love Him more, and to love one another. This
love makes us whole and complete. “And so we know and rely on the love
God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God
in him/her.” 1 John 4:16 THAT is PERFECT LOVE! Perfect love is a love
that is loyal, wide-ranging, thorough, and all-embracing. It is a love that
is not judgemental or envious, but it is a love that is forgiving, kind,
protective, faithful, patient, filled with hope, perseverance, and courage.
“Love NEVER fails.” 1 Cor. 13:8a
1 John 4:12 says, “If we love one another, God abides in us, and his love
is PERFECTED in us.” In Greek, the word for “perfected” is “teleioo” which
means, in the New Testament – finished, or completed, or accomplished.
For example, the same word is used in John 4:34 where Jesus says, “My
food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to accomplish His work.”
Accomplish is to achieve, complete, finish. So, when God’s love is
‘perfected” in us, it is complete and total – finished. His work in us was
“finished” on the Cross. Now we must live and abide in that perfect love
which strengthens and sustains us as we obey Him and live out His will in
our lives.
In John 15, Jesus teaches us how, as branches of the vine, we must
ABIDE in Him, our Vine. John Piper once wrote, “Perfect love is love that
does not die on the vine. It’s love that comes to fruition.” How wonderful!
Precious Lord Jesus, thank You for perfecting Your love within us, so we
can say as Col. 1:27 says, “Christ IN you, (me) the hope of glory.” Thank
you for 2 Tim. 1:7 which says that “God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power, love, and self-control.” Please help us to realize that your
beautiful, perfect love is within us, that we can live in it and enjoy it and
love others as You love us. Oh, sweet Master, help us to let go of fear and
embrace Your gentle yet strong, abiding, perfect love which does not let
go of us, but holds us close in Your dear Bosom of love. Amen
Myrtle Turunen