Praises Along the Way-- Fear on the Run!

September 15, 2008

The Lord has been teaching me about the effects of love on fear for some time. I don’t know about you but fear is something I have to deal with everyday. “Do not fear” God says to us over and over in the Word. As I was thinking about this subject several scriptures came to mind.

The first one was 1John 4:13-19 “We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the Day of Judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love.

But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. We love because he first loved us.”

Wow what a loaded scripture… I acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, therefore God lives in me and I don’t have to fear the Day of Judgment because, the word says, in this world we are like him.

He’s saying to us really the only thing we should fear is facing judgment day without acknowledging that Jesus is the Son of God. Fear and punishment go hand in hand.
If I acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, the word says that God who is love lives in me and I in him and there truly is nothing to fear. If God is for us who can be against us?

Then I thought that if perfect love drives out all fear what or who is love? The scripture above tells us God is Love. But what is love? 1Cor. 13 came to my mind so I went there to see what the word says about love.

1Cor 13:4-8 says, “ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, and it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, and always perseveres.

LOVE NEVER FAILS…”

There were several things God showed me about this scripture that I had never seen before such as, “Love is patient, love is kind.” Right there it tells you exactly what love is, the rest of the scriptures tells you what love does not do and what it always does but these first few words say exactly what love is.

So I doubt we can “love” cheesecake as I have said before because according to the truth of the word love is a commitment word. A commitment to be patient and kind to another person. Love is an action. I think that I lust after cheesecake would be a better phrase to use. Ew, that’s ugly when you actually think about what you are saying.

Love is relational. The next time you tell someone you love them, think of it as you are saying to them that you are committing yourself to be patient and kind with them all the time. Wow that puts things into perspective!

The other thing I realized is that this is who God is; these are the ways he always responds in regard to us. God is patient, he is kind, and he doesn’t envy or boast. He is not proud or rude or self-seeking or easily angered and he keeps no record of wrongs. God doesn't delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, trusts, hopes and perseveres. GOD NEVER FAILS!

If I want to know more about him this scripture is very informative. I’m sure there are a thousand and one things in this scripture that I have just missed but so far this is what he’s shown me. Now, back to the perfect love casts out all fear thing. When I am tempted to fear, what if I was patient and kind in the face of that temptation? Would it go away? Would I be able to stand my ground?

Strange as it seems it works! When the temptation to fear came I was patient through the testing and remained kind to those around me, it worked! Don’t get me wrong, I’m in no way saying I’ve arrived or that I’ve perfected this art but it is very interesting food for thought and it certainly has changed the way I will use the word “love” in the future.

God has been teaching me about love with Danni. There are so many things as a caregiver that is pure acts of love. I thought I knew what love was but I didn’t. Through this experience I am learning the act of love; the giving of me to another person like Jesus did and continues to do. I’m learning to be more like him. As a mother I guess I did these things all along but I never connected it with the word as I have through these waters.

I don’t get it all right but there is not condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) because walking after the Spirit is a learning process.

I’m grateful, Lord, for all you are teaching me and those around me during this time of trial and tribulation. Thank you for your love for me no matter what. Thank you for your great patience with me as I toddle through your precepts learning them as a child learns to walk on their own. I love you Lord, I commit to be patient and kind to you and treat you as you treat me as you lead me through this land. In the fullness of Jesus name I pray these things. Amen.

What thoughts, scriptures and experiences come to mind as you have read this? Please share so that we can all be edified!