From the scriptures, we learn that there is a spirit of fear and a spirit of love battling in this world. The good news is that love is greater than fear. 1 John 4:18-19 says:
“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:18-19 ESV)
As we are perfected in God’s love, fear cannot rule our lives. But what does that mean to be perfected in God’s love? The Word perfected here doesn’t mean without error, as we might think, as much as it means complete or mature. Essentially, as we become more mature in our relationship with God and grow in the knowledge of His love for us, less fear has a hold on our lives.
All of God’s laws and commands are fulfilled when we love. So those who love have been perfected by God’s love because we can’t love without Him. So our acts of love are evidence that we have a sincere relationship with Him, that we abide in Him, and He is in us. Still, “being perfected in love” is an ongoing process that we are blessed to experience each day.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the perfect love that You show me, so I may be empowered to love and be loved well. May I joyfully grow in the knowledge and experience of Your love all my life. In Jesus Christ’s Name, I pray, Amen.
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