•Monday, November 22, 2010
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear." I John 4:18 NIV
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him," John explains. Love--God's pure and perfect love--sets us free. Where we might have been intimidated by someone smarter or prettier, God sets us free to love. Where we might have been resentful toward someone who has hurt or betrayed us, God sets us free to love. Where we might have been fearful to let down our walls, God gives us freedom to risk loving anyway.
God's love for us is deep, sure, and unwavering. John states that the reason there is no fear in love is "because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." When we accept Jesus as our savior, our sins are wiped away forever by the sacrifice of blood that he made on the cross. Jesus already took our punishment. We are now sheltered in the arms of love forever. We may know consequences or correction, but the final punishment has been spared us.
If we have experienced this powerful love of God, it should set us free to love others in the same way that we are loved. With loving comes risk. Not everyone deserves our love; not everyone will reciprocate our love; not everyone will appreciate our love. We are free to love anyway, and to love without fear--with wisdom and discernment, certainly, but not with fear.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
"God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him," John explains. Love--God's pure and perfect love--sets us free. Where we might have been intimidated by someone smarter or prettier, God sets us free to love. Where we might have been resentful toward someone who has hurt or betrayed us, God sets us free to love. Where we might have been fearful to let down our walls, God gives us freedom to risk loving anyway.
God's love for us is deep, sure, and unwavering. John states that the reason there is no fear in love is "because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." When we accept Jesus as our savior, our sins are wiped away forever by the sacrifice of blood that he made on the cross. Jesus already took our punishment. We are now sheltered in the arms of love forever. We may know consequences or correction, but the final punishment has been spared us.
If we have experienced this powerful love of God, it should set us free to love others in the same way that we are loved. With loving comes risk. Not everyone deserves our love; not everyone will reciprocate our love; not everyone will appreciate our love. We are free to love anyway, and to love without fear--with wisdom and discernment, certainly, but not with fear.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."
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