No Fear In Love

THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE. BUT PERFECT LOVE DRIVES OUT FEAR, BECAUSE FEAR HAS TO DO WITH PUNISHMENT. 1 John 4.18.

People say, “Only the fearful believe in God!” They fear evil happening to them. They fear that ‘the gods’ or God will be angry because of their wrongdoings or for not pleasing them with gifts. At times, you and I also succumb to such 'pagan' thinking! After believing in Christ and knowing that we are now the children of God, we still harbour such wrong thoughts about God! How could we?

How often when something bad or some accident or calamity befalls you, your first thought is, ‘Ah! It must be God punishing me for some wrongdoing!’ If you are habitually doing wrong and disobeying God’s commandments, then you have good reason to think so. You must find out what evil you have done and confess it to God. He will forgive you. But you must be genuine in your confession. Don’t keep repeating the same sin again! Seek God's help to succeed.

Dear believer, You are a child of God. God loves you. His love is so great that God sent His only Son to die for you while you were a sinner. Now that you are saved and you belong to God, you don’t have to fear that God will punish you or strike you down for whatever wrong you have done or might do! God’s love for you does not change whether you have sinned or not. If you confess your sin, your fellowship with God is restored and is intact. God's promise is: "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 Jn 1.9).

In order to drive out ‘the fear of God’ from your life, you need to know God’s love. The Bible says, “the LORD, he is good; his love endures forever” (Psa 106.1). You need to pray for the Holy Spirit’s help “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge” (Eph 3.18,19).

In order to drive out ‘the fear of God’, you need to love God. The Bible says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” (Lk 10.27). The Lord Jesus asked Peter, “Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these others do (more than everything)?" He replied, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you” (Jn 21.15). The Lord asks you also the same question. Won't you want to reply like Peter? Then begin to show your love for God by spending much time with Him in reading ‘His love-Letter’ (the Bible) and talking to Him (in prayer). If you do, slowly your fear of God and His punishment will begin to disappear!

Pray and practise with me: Dear Lord, may Your Spirit help me know Your love and to love You as I ought to so that I will have no fear even when fearful things happen. Amen.