There Is No Fear in Love

 February 9, 2024

Friday

1 John 4:18 (NASB 2020) 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

We live in a world that seems to want to scare us. Each night the news tells us of a new existential threat. (They love that word.) Nutritionists tell us that everything we eat will kill us. (The safest practice is to starve to death.) We are covered up by shootings, mass shoplifting, road rage, and just plain meanness in every news break. It is easy to be scared of going outside.

Maybe this is why people seem to be hermits who don’t know their neighbors beyond their names. They are suspicious of nearly everyone they meet. They are afraid of being scammed, having their identity stolen or simply getting ripped off over something they have bought. The safest action is to buy everything online, shut the doors as soon as the home is entered and not go to the door if someone knocks. (Maybe there is a market for “Not Welcome” mats.)

How did we get this way? Maybe its because we don’t know perfect love. Or at least, we have forgotten perfect love. 

We will never know perfect love by observing how most people love one another. Some people have amazing love, but few have given themselves over to perfect love. Jesus who has loved us more than anyone on earth has, shares His love with those who will accept it. His love enables people to love like He loves. His love establishes a sacrifice that lays down life.

Those of us who are believers should accept Jesus’ perfect love today. This is not salvation. This is an identification with Christ. This is an observance of the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This is allowing Him to fill us. 

Once we know His perfect love within us, we have our fears fade away. We know we are forgiven and have no punishment ahead no matter what we have done. We know that our future is with Him even if we are facing death. We know that He loves us in the struggles we have ahead.

Then, there is nothing to fear. This perfect love has cast out fear.