Perfecting Love

“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.” -1 John 4:18

I used to be afraid of the dark. If I woke up in the middle of the night, out of fear I would call for my mother. When she came, everything was okay. Nothing had changed in the room, there still may have been a monster in the closet. But she was there now, and everything was okay.

Today, I’m afraid of failure. When I look up after 3 months and feel as though I’ve made no progress in my career or personal goals, I call for my wife. When she comes, everything is okay. Nothing in my situation has changed. I still have the same chance of failing that I did before. But she is with me, so everything is okay.

Obviously the love my mother, or my wife have for me is not perfect. But their love and presence in my life still has the power to drive out most of my fears. Imagine then, the power of the perfect love of a perfect God to absolutely obliterate our fear of the future, or sickness, or doubt, or sin. The perfecting love of God starts by casting out the enemy that is committed to moving us in the opposite direction of his purposes. Fear pushes us into isolation, but love pulls us toward Christ. And in being pulled toward Christ, we are uprooted from our fear completely, and planted in his presence.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, I thank you for your love. I know and believe that your love is perfect, and therefore has the power to cast out all fear. Help me to walk in that love today so that I would be driven towards you and towards other to reflect that same perfecting love.