“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).
Walking in love completely eliminates fear from your life. When I hear someone say, “I’m afraid of this or that,” I know right away that such a fellow is yet to comprehend what it means to walk in the love of God, for perfect love—God’s love casts out fear.
For example, fear is the reason people tell lies, steal, kill and do many of the wrong things they do. They’re either afraid of being rejected by others, afraid of the future, or afraid of life itself. But when you’re born again God gives you the spirit of love, not of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). What you need to realize is that God is love and He accepts you just the way you are. You don’t have to be afraid of God despite all the wrong things you may have done. No wonder He says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).
God loves you. His love for you is perfect, that means it can’t be improved upon, for you don’t improve on perfect. That means God is not going to love you more tomorrow or when you get to heaven than He already does. Now, if the Monarch of the universe, the Creator of the whole world loves you, then why should you be afraid of anything or anyone? It’s absolutely impossible for fear to remain in the place where love abounds, for love is the antidote to fear.
If you ever feel afraid of anything, you don’t need to pray to God to deliver you from fear; just meditate on the love of God until that love overwhelms you. There’re folks who are afraid of just about everything—they’re even afraid of God Himself, seeing Him as a “consuming fire.” He is love, and not a “consuming fire”; He’s not just a loving heavenly Father, He is love personified. When you relate with Him with the understanding of how much He loves you, you’ll never be afraid of Him.
In some homes, some of the kids run and take cover whenever daddy gets back from work. Yet, right in that same home, there may be another kid who runs to daddy’s car to welcome him home. What’s the difference between the children? They have the same father, but one has understood that daddy loves him; therefore he’s taking advantage of daddy’s love. He relates with daddy freely, no matter what he’s done! That is what love does; it dispels fear from you!
Confession
I live in the perfect love of God my Father, being deeply rooted in and securely founded on His love. Therefore, I can fearlessly, confidently and boldly walk through life, knowing that the Monarch of the universe loves me! I refuse to fear anything or anyone, for the greater One lives in me.
Further Study:
2 Timothy 1:7 1 John 4:16-17
1 John 4:18 WNT
(Taken by permission from Christ Embassy Church , aka Believer’s LoveWorld Ministries , Lagos, Nigeria. www.ChristEmbassy.org )
