1 John 4
Scripture
Vs 4 … he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Vs 9 … God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
Vs 14 … the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world
Vs 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world
Vs 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. … whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
Vs 19 We love because he first loved us.
Vs 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar.
Observation
John is emphasizing what God has done for us.
God has come into the world for us.
God has come into the world that we might live … He is our Savior.
This was an act of ultimate love.
As a result, we are like He is, “perfected in love”, even though we are still “in this world”.
What is the result of this perfected love in us?
One result is an abstention of something from us … FEAR! … We have NOTHING TO FEAR now!
The other result is an overflow from us … LOVE! … We have EVERYTHING TO LOVE now!
Application
What is the greatest motivator of my day to day activity?… Perhaps it is too often “habit” and/or “instinct”.
In the most mundane moments or days … I’m just taking daily routine from one moment or task to the next, to the next, etc.
When routine become disturbed, and action outside of the routine and ordinary are called for … What then?
Do I fall into “instinct”? … Fight or Flight?
Engage the new situation or flee from the new circumstance?
These ultimately are based on Fear!
Fear of loss, fear of danger, fear of heartache, fear of pain,
Fear of suffering, fear of opportunity loss, fear of embarrassment,
Fear of shame, fear of humiliation, fear of failure, fear of being wrong,
Even … fear of evil.
But greater is God who is IN me than anything I could ever engage in the world!
I have the love of Christ in me!
I am perfected in Christ!
So, I have absolutely nothing to fear … ever again … for any reason … truly EVER!!
Do I actually believe this?
Well, am I ever afraid? … I am afraid so … (pun intended)!
So, I go back to “abiding” … God in me & me in God.
I am forgiven. I am saved. I am perfected.
I am loved. So that now … I can love … without fear.
Prayer
Thank you, God, that you first loved me.
Help me Spirit to love You and others in return.
Remind me that I have nothing to fear.
Open my eyes to who
And give me courage as to when
I must love
In Jesus name,
Amen