Perfect love

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 1 John 4:18 (English Standard Version)

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We ourselves are eye-witnesses able and willing to testify to the fact that the Father did send the Son to save the world. Everyone who acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God lives in him, and he lives in God. So we have come to know and trust the love God has for us. God is love, and the man whose life is lived in love does, in fact, live in God, and God does, in fact, live in him. So our love for him grows more and more, filling us with complete confidence for the day when he shall judge all men—for we realize that our life in this world is actually his life lived in us. Love contains no fear—indeed fully-developed love expels every particle of fear, for fear always contains some of the torture of feeling guilty. This means that the man who lives in fear has not yet had his love perfected. 1 John 4:16b-18 (J.P. Phillips NT)

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If we really love God, we will not be afraid of him. We cannot love him completely and also be afraid. We would only be afraid of God if we thought that he would punish us. So, if someone is afraid that God will punish them, it shows that they do not completely know God’s love. 1 John 4:18 (Easy English Bible)

Knowing Jesus means more love and confidence, less and less fear.

I borrowed this line from the J.B. Phillips New Testament. It is brief, but to the point. When God’s love lives in you through the presence of Papa God, Lord Jesus, and Holy Spirit, fear is displaced. You do not deny your fear. Instead, your trust is in God’s love which assures you that HE will lead you.

Life is a training process preparing one for eternity with Jesus. One of the attributes of God we learn is love. We learn love by practicing ways to express HIS love with others. We may begin slowly and awkwardly. But we learn. As we extend our hand to help someone, love’s seeds are cast. If we are rejected, God’s grace covers us through the pain. The more we practice ways to love others, the better we grow.

You may have to walk through the fear. You may turn and run away from it. You may laugh at it. Whatever God inspires you to do, you have learned to faithfully trust HIM.

If unsure where to begin, we start with Jesus. We find ways to love HIM. Initially, we discover all the ways HE shows his love to us. Then we seek out ways to express our love to HIM.

From there, we begin to practice with those closes to us, our family. As our ability to find ways to sacrifice and support them grows, we keep expanding our reach. We have friends, business associates, and neighbors to add unto our list. And the list never ends.

As we meet strangers in the grocery store or mall, we find ways to show love to them. It may be as simple as a smile or opening a door.

Small steps. Easy gestures. Simple words. It doesn’t have to be a big moment. Just expressing small tidbits of ways to let others know you care for them. That they are appreciated.

If you are a person who is dealing with fear in your life, make Love your pathway through it. It begins by developing a deeper relationship with Jesus. Then allowing Jesus’s love be expressed through you. So let HIM be the center of your exodus. HE will lead you through your fears. In the process, your love tank will grow and dump the fears away.

Rooting For You in Christ!

Dr. Mike

^{Faith-Integrator, Encourager, Scribbler}

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“We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,” (Colossians 1:9)

2 Timothy 1:7

for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.

Fear is the weapon of the enemy. They manipulate fear for profit, power, and control. Whether we are speaking about a boss whose leadership style is to control your every move or the media who needs your attention to stay in business, fear is the drug of choice.

Movies are made to capture your emotional fear factor. In politics, fear is used to raise money, votes, and opinions. Those who disagree with you, threaten you with violence. Throughout history, fear has shown its ugly components to suppress human potential and social flourishment.

Jesus stated in the gospel of Matthew,“So have no fear of them, for nothing is covered that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. What I tell you in the dark, say in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

They are fear mongers. They use fear as the tool of choice. They know what they do and laugh at the people who fall prey to their weapon. Yet God, as Paul writes his letter to Timothy, has empowered us with a spirit, not only to defend us from fear, but to offensively combat fear. “For He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). The Spirit which lives within each child of God expresses His power, love, and personal control to see through the empty lies of the enemy.

Fear has to do with punishment. But perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18) is how the apostle John stated it in one of his letters to the churches. Love is the solution. Not worldly love which is nominal in it impact. But God’s love which resides in you. The same love that created the universe, became human, lived and died a sinless death, and lives for the fulfillment of HIS purpose, you now possess. Let God’s love overwhelm you and allow HIM to fully live in you. Love overcomes all things, including the fear bomb.

Love, along with knowing the truth, sets us free from fear. Jesus stated, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples,and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Understanding Jesus’ teaching and who HE IS lays the groundwork for separating the lies, falsehoods, and hypocrisy we are undated each and every day. Without this knowledge and relationship, one is thrown into the over-the-top, information overload human machine which overwhelms your emotional and intelligent brain center into a paralyzed state of fear and frenzy.

But be of good cheer. The emotional hole these fear mongers seek to fill can be quickly eradicated through the Spirit of the living God who wants to do more than just reside in you. HE wants you to experience life with HIM to the fullest. He is fearful of nothing and wants you to know HE wants to share HIS character and attributes with you. When you align yourself with HIM and allow HIM to have HIS way with you, you will then truly experience life without fanatical fear. You will know how to separate real fear from the delusional hype.

The with-God life is more real and lasting than anything this world throws your way. Catch it and watch the fear dissipate before your very eyes.

Rooting For You in Christ!