Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
The story of Jochebed and her infant son demonstrates how love overcomes fear. Her love for her child was greater than her fear of the king’s command.
I read a book a few years ago that told of a young woman who was a christian living in Rome during the rule of the Nero. Due to a series of events in her life she ended up in the arena to be killed by lions for the entertainment of the crowd.
As she entered the arena the shouts of the onlookers was so great that the ground shook beneath her feet. They wanted to see believers die for sport at the command of the emperor. After making her way to the center of the arena she saw the metal gates open and hungry lions leaping from their cages as they raced towards their prey…..her.
Instead of running in fear and screaming she dropped to her knees and raised her hands in praise to God that she could be counted as one of His children. She passionately loved God and believed that He was in full control of whether she lived or died and she was going to make every moment of her life and death count for Him. Her love for God and her understanding of His love for her, helped her to cast out the fear of what the enemy had intended for her and gave her the courage to boldly praise God for the entire arena to see.
History is filled with stories of martyrs for Christ who understood what the passage in 1 John 4:18 means. 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 can be so filled with fear of man that we forget the love of God. Not all stories end in martyrdom, but all stories give us the choice of how we will respond – in fear or in trust of our loving God and Father.
Whatever lions you may be facing today, give it to God who deeply and unconditionally loves you. He already took the punishment for our wrong choices and nailed them to the cross. Now we have the privilege of living for Him surrounded by His perfect love. Knowing this will give us the courage to cast out fear and boldly demonstrate our faith in the God of Love for the world to see.
Be intentional about knowing and living in the Love of God.
Praises & Prayers
Father, I thank You for Your incredible and unconditional love. Help me to remember that love when I am tempted to fear. I know You love me and You have my life in Your hands. Your will be done Lord. I pray that my life will be a testimony to the amazing God I love and serve. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Messages from His Word
1 John 4:18
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.