Perfect Love
1 John 4:15-21 (NIV)
If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 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 them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 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.
My grandmother’s backyard squirrels loved her homemade biscuits. You might wonder how I know that. It’s because they would come to her glass door and wait. She would open the door, the squirrel would enter, take a piece of biscuit from her hand, and leave. Usually, squirrels are far too afraid to approach humans, but she had trained them to trust her.
Sometimes we approach God with that same kind of trepidation. We worry about what an awesome and powerful God might do to someone like us. Instead of approaching God to receive, we back away out of fear. We don’t reach out for His grace because we’ve already decided it’s much too dangerous to trust the Almighty.
John paints a much different picture in chapter four. He states it plainly: God is love. As we live in God’s love, we are aware of God’s love and presence in us. That love gives us confidence on the day of judgment. Were you ever confident standing in the principal’s office or facing your parents? You were if you knew for sure that you wouldn’t be punished. God’s love gives us confidence that when we stand before Him, we aren’t facing punishment.
God’s love is perfect, and when we partake of that love through Jesus and live out that love, it drives out fear. The old myth of pleading our case before St. Peter at the Pearly Gates isn’t even a second thought. We have no worries about whether or not God will usher us into His presence. He will. We know that because of His perfect love.
When you know that kind of assurance now, it frees you to live for God. You can receive from Him. You can give to others. That’s because the fear is gone.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your perfect love. We know that because of Your love at work in us, we don’t have to be afraid of judgment. Jesus has paid the price for us, and because of Him, we will receive a great reward. Help us to live a life free from fear so that we can serve You with our whole hearts. Amen.