1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”
Hey, I just realized that when you read this it will be Valentine’s Day. I tend to overlook holidays…. but this is the thought the Lord gave me for today.
John sets forth 3 truths in this verse: 1) Fear and perfect love cannot coexist; 2) Fear comes with torment, the opposite of perfect love; and, 3) if there is fear, one has not perfected their love.
So with those things in mind, today’s devotion is on “Perfect Love.”
1). How Love is Perfected- in verse 17 John tells us how love is made perfect, through boldness (confidence) in the day of judgement. Love is made perfect when you are willing to boldly profess that love in the midst of judgement. Christ had such love for us that he boldly endured the cross to save your soul. Our love is made perfect when we are willing to let a supreme love for Christ above all else; and when our devotion to him is called into judgement that supremacy of love over all else will empower us with boldness to cling to the one that loved us above all others.
2). Perfect Love’s Purpose – A perfection in our love towards God will cause several things to happen. So long as our love is perfect towards him, we will not stray from His Will. Regardless of the circumstances and adversity, perfect love in God casts out all fear of the world and doubt in our Lord. Finally, Perfect Love compels is to continue the mission that Christ founded in the church, and as long as our love is perfect we will have a burden for those that Christ loved and gave Himself for.
3). The Deliverance in Perfect Love – as stated above, fear is not present in One whom has perfected love; and fear is a torment to the soul. Perfect Love towards God removes the vexation of fear in the flesh. The flesh may rear its ugly head in fear, but all torment is banished when we remember our love for God and boldness to for The Lord replaces that torment. To be delivered from the paralysis that so often accompanies fears is a true blessing! Without fear, the only thing separating us from accomplished the Will of God is our willingness to do it… and if you Love right, you’ll do right.
In closing, have you ever noticed how much the Word talks about the importance of Love, how we ought to Love and how much God loved us? This is the case because Love is crucial to every Christian’s salvation, separation and service. God loves us supremely and a person with perfected love will respond in kind. After all, verse 19 says “We love him, because he first loved us.”
Your fellowservant in Christ,
Bro. Jordan Foster
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