HAVE YOU GOT IT???
There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels EVERY trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love's complete perfection]. (1 John 4:18, TAB)
WOW!!! We usually quote this verse in the King's English (KJV)--we say, "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." Sometimes, we shorten it, and just say "Perfect love casts out fear!" Somehow, though, the point gets lost, in the quote. If we really take it to heart, there would be a greater benefit to loving, as Christ loved (and taught us to). Actually, it is a little selfish when you think about it--this benefit to love, is only for the "lover", not the one being loved. It is the fear that the one who has learned to love, and allowed it to grow and mature within Him, ceases to have, living in dread. It's all about us (this time)--not anyone else--a little unusual for New Testament teaching, but some of us won't do anything for anybody--unless, we get something out of it, bottom line. God knew that.
Love has all kinds of benefits, for us--those of us who choose to love freely, and purely, but they are not as solidly clear, as this one. This is right in your face! Love and you will STOP having fear.
What is it that we are so afraid of, anyway? With sin's entrance, onto the stage of life, (at the beginning) fear came along for the ride, too. It is natural to fear. It is normal, for people to have fear's, worries and anxieties--and most of us go from one to another--sometimes, without being freed from the first. Fear happens. It happens to everyone, until we learn to love (it does not happen, instantly--it is a process, like all maturation). Love doesn't come as naturally, we are hard to love--with all of our quirks, idiosyncrasies, attitudes, character flaws and some outright nastiness! The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to give us the secret to being released from our plaguing fears--it is a challenge: Love beyond the issues of others. See the potential for godliness, and greatness in others--even, when they are being anything but godly and great. See, with spiritual eyes; not natural, carnal ones. In this life, people are going to hurt you, they will abandon you, lie on you, steal from you, and try to kill you--but, you are still required to love them! What??!!! Yes, correct. What it take for us to do this, is a recognition that, behind every evil deed is not a person, but satan. he is actually the one who seeks to "steal, kill and destroy". People are only tools, puppets, in his hand. That's why we must pray for those who "despitefully use us". They are being used and abused by satan--they are his victims.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (TAB)--which we ALL love to quote, says: "Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." Herein, lies the definition of mature (perfect) love. This is how grown-up, godly love, behaves. So, have you got it??? I cannot answer that question for you--I cannot even ask it in a judging, condescending manner, because I have to constantly ask myself. As a born-again believer--one whose status has been changed to that of "son of God", I must daily ask myself--not necessarily in these words (but it wouldn't hurt, mind you!), do I have grown-up, pure love, in my heart? Sometimes, there is evidence, that I have plenty of work to do. I am not ashamed to admit that--I would only need to be ashamed if I wasn't doing anything to continue to grow up, in my love toward others. That is where the shame lies.
Now, back to what causes us to have so much fear. First of all, fear comes from satan. The only kind of fear that God expects of us, isn't "fear" (as we know the word, in our English language), but a holy reverence for Him. The things that plague us, don't come from Him, but from satan--the adversary wants to keep us in fear, so he keeps us focused on the failures, betrayals, hurts that others commit against us. he wants our full and total concentration on the other man's "mirror"--what is wrong with them? How could they do such a thing? What did they do? How did they fall? How could they treat me this way? What will they do to me, if they find out that I am not as "good", "happy", "perfect", fabulous or whatever--you fill in your own blank??!!! As soon as we become focused on these things, our love meter begins to drop, and our fear meter rises, rapidly.
As people of God, we are in the same Body and can only be as strong as our weakest link (1 Corinthians 12:12-26); so, if we are really one--what happens to you, happens to me. I don't need to fear you, as you are part of me, and I, you. Our focus should be on fulfilling the commandment of the Lord--to love one another, (in spite of--ALL). We will fall short, but our lifestyle, must be one of love. Our goal should be perfect love--not getting back at my brother or sister. As we learn to love--and FORGIVE, fear will decrease, in our lives.
If you don't have it, get it--it's for you!
WOW!!! We usually quote this verse in the King's English (KJV)--we say, "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." Sometimes, we shorten it, and just say "Perfect love casts out fear!" Somehow, though, the point gets lost, in the quote. If we really take it to heart, there would be a greater benefit to loving, as Christ loved (and taught us to). Actually, it is a little selfish when you think about it--this benefit to love, is only for the "lover", not the one being loved. It is the fear that the one who has learned to love, and allowed it to grow and mature within Him, ceases to have, living in dread. It's all about us (this time)--not anyone else--a little unusual for New Testament teaching, but some of us won't do anything for anybody--unless, we get something out of it, bottom line. God knew that.
Love has all kinds of benefits, for us--those of us who choose to love freely, and purely, but they are not as solidly clear, as this one. This is right in your face! Love and you will STOP having fear.
What is it that we are so afraid of, anyway? With sin's entrance, onto the stage of life, (at the beginning) fear came along for the ride, too. It is natural to fear. It is normal, for people to have fear's, worries and anxieties--and most of us go from one to another--sometimes, without being freed from the first. Fear happens. It happens to everyone, until we learn to love (it does not happen, instantly--it is a process, like all maturation). Love doesn't come as naturally, we are hard to love--with all of our quirks, idiosyncrasies, attitudes, character flaws and some outright nastiness! The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle John to give us the secret to being released from our plaguing fears--it is a challenge: Love beyond the issues of others. See the potential for godliness, and greatness in others--even, when they are being anything but godly and great. See, with spiritual eyes; not natural, carnal ones. In this life, people are going to hurt you, they will abandon you, lie on you, steal from you, and try to kill you--but, you are still required to love them! What??!!! Yes, correct. What it take for us to do this, is a recognition that, behind every evil deed is not a person, but satan. he is actually the one who seeks to "steal, kill and destroy". People are only tools, puppets, in his hand. That's why we must pray for those who "despitefully use us". They are being used and abused by satan--they are his victims.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (TAB)--which we ALL love to quote, says: "Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening]." Herein, lies the definition of mature (perfect) love. This is how grown-up, godly love, behaves. So, have you got it??? I cannot answer that question for you--I cannot even ask it in a judging, condescending manner, because I have to constantly ask myself. As a born-again believer--one whose status has been changed to that of "son of God", I must daily ask myself--not necessarily in these words (but it wouldn't hurt, mind you!), do I have grown-up, pure love, in my heart? Sometimes, there is evidence, that I have plenty of work to do. I am not ashamed to admit that--I would only need to be ashamed if I wasn't doing anything to continue to grow up, in my love toward others. That is where the shame lies.
Now, back to what causes us to have so much fear. First of all, fear comes from satan. The only kind of fear that God expects of us, isn't "fear" (as we know the word, in our English language), but a holy reverence for Him. The things that plague us, don't come from Him, but from satan--the adversary wants to keep us in fear, so he keeps us focused on the failures, betrayals, hurts that others commit against us. he wants our full and total concentration on the other man's "mirror"--what is wrong with them? How could they do such a thing? What did they do? How did they fall? How could they treat me this way? What will they do to me, if they find out that I am not as "good", "happy", "perfect", fabulous or whatever--you fill in your own blank??!!! As soon as we become focused on these things, our love meter begins to drop, and our fear meter rises, rapidly.
As people of God, we are in the same Body and can only be as strong as our weakest link (1 Corinthians 12:12-26); so, if we are really one--what happens to you, happens to me. I don't need to fear you, as you are part of me, and I, you. Our focus should be on fulfilling the commandment of the Lord--to love one another, (in spite of--ALL). We will fall short, but our lifestyle, must be one of love. Our goal should be perfect love--not getting back at my brother or sister. As we learn to love--and FORGIVE, fear will decrease, in our lives.
If you don't have it, get it--it's for you!
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