There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. We love, because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. (1 John 4:18-20 AMP)
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:19 Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
REFLECTION
This passage both encourages and challenges me. I’m encouraged in that God is growing us with His love, into expressions of “complete, full grown love” that drives out all fear, which reminds me of another promise that “nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus” (see Romans 8:31-39). This is deeply comforting.
I’m challenged by the footnotes in that I’m reminded of the free will God has bestowed on us / me, and that I can choose how I respond to His love, His wooing, and how I respond to anything and everything, including fear. So if/when fear slithers up to me, I can choose to reject it and choose to trust God’s Word (for He does not lie) and set my thoughts on His loving words and ways, intentionally choosing to pursue love – perfect love, found in Christ.
Let’s lean into love, be loved and loving. How lovely that sounds, but you may be thinking: What does love actually look like? How exactly can we be loving? A good place to prayerfully start (or revisit) – open to revelation from the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to truly love – is meditating on the Biblical definition of love, found in 1 Corinthians 13: Bible.comhttps://www.bible.com › bible › 1C…I Corinthians 13 | NKJV Bible | YouVersion
PRAYER POEM: Lovely
Lord, help me not to give ear to fear, but to turn to hear You wooing me to draw near… trusting that in due time, glorious things shall appear as I learn to lean into Your love and all things lovely, true and of You.
