“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” (1 John 4:18).
The Bible says perfect love casts out fear, meaning there’s no fear whatsoever in perfect love. If you’re a parent for example, and your child has ever welcomed you by jumping on you with his dirty hands, you’ll understand what I mean. He’s excited and full of love as he sees you and he isn’t afraid of punishment because he expects you to respond with the same love and affection; that’s perfect love.
God is more than a good daddy. The Bible says “The Lord is good” (Psalm 100:5); that’s His nature. He always has good things for His kids. When you understand that the Father loves you, you won’t be afraid to come to Him. The Bible says “but God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us (made us alive) together with Christ…” (Ephesians 2:4-5). This should make you shout! God is rich in mercy, His love for you is limitless.
As far as the Father is concerned, nothing you do could make Him turn His back on you; he loves you lavishly: “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God…” (1 John 3:1). Your heavenly Father doesn’t see you as a sinner but as His loving child, He loves you the way he loves Jesus, and He wants you to embrace that perfect love. His love for you can never diminish; that is what makes it perfect.
If you sin, don’t let it weigh you down. Tell God about it and say you’re sorry, and He’ll forgive you (1 John 1:9). Once you ask for forgiveness, God no longer remembers what you did wrong. It’s all part of the new relationship. There are children who are afraid to get close to their parents. Such children aren’t growing in love but in fear, because they’re more conscious of punishment than the parents’ love. But God’s love can’t be compared with human parental love; it’s love most perfect! Embrace that love today.
Confession
I live in the perfect love of God the Father; I’m deeply rooted in and securely founded on His love. Therefore, I can fearlessly, confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help me today! Hallelujah!
Further Study: John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Psalm 86:5: “For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.” Ephesians 3:16-19: “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; [17] That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; [19] And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
