DaySpring Daily Word of Inspiration: 1 John 4:18-19 – 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. We love because he first loved us.
No one can truly comprehend how deep love is. We have a sense of what we believe it is. We have the emotions that make our hearts race when we’re near someone. We experience the sensations in our stomach’s when we are touched by a special someone. We even lose our sense of self, rationalism, and regard when love is in the air…. Or all over us. This is what we know love to be. It doesn’t produce worry; it makes us carefree and giddy. When we’re in love, it’s written all over our faces and we’re proud to be in love.
Trust in a byproduct of real love. At times this has been our experience as well. We throw caution to the wind and ride the emotional rollercoaster until the wheels fall off! No one gives a care if it looks dangerous or there are twists and turns and around every corner there’s an unexpected something that you couldn’t be prepared for. No, we trust that love will get us through no matter what. We have no reservations that we will be ok because the one we’re with loves us too and that’s all we need! Crazy right? Even if others are on the ride with you, you’re only concerned about the one you’re with and who’s with you. Love is the one thing we can follow blindly and have hope that it will lead us to where we’re supposed to be and go.
So let’s flip the script a bit. We’ve seen how love in the physical takes shape. Now let’s see how it shapes out on the spiritual side of things. What does love look like? How do we know what true love would be in the spirit realm? Does God really love us? The truth is we would never know if God hadn’t shown us first what unequivocal love looked like. By sending his one-gene son to die as atonement for the sins of mankind, he demonstrated how deep, real, sacrificial, and hopeful love is! There was no fear, for God knew that although many would reject the truth; some would embrace it! Even his hope had love secured for mankind – the hope and vision of having a relationship with his creation again. Thank you God for wanting to have a relationship with us!
Let’s take our previous example of the rollercoaster. Love – loving God specifically, can be viewed in a similar light. On our own approaching a new, gigantic, unknown ride of living could produce a fear or anxiety. But when you’re with the one you love and the one who loves you, there is no fear. The challenges of this new life with Christ subside and give way to trust. Trust in turn makes us giddy and excited about what’s next. We throw caution, worry, stress, heartache, anger, depression, sadness and every negative thought to the wind. We are carefree in the bosom of our love – Christ. There is no fear. We welcome the unknown, the challenges, the setbacks, the discipline, the lesson, the ride! We start out on our journey with fellow Christian passengers but when we’re in the dark tunnels of this life’s ride, WE HAVE NO FEAR because we’re focused on the one we’re with. There is no turning back; we ride the journey out in hope and expectation of reaching our final destination with the one we love.
Today we pray that your journey with Christ has no reservations. When we truly love Christ, we have a love that is unwavering and being made perfect because of the example we follow which shows us how to love! Falling in love with Christ is the relationship that drives out all fears because you’re assured the love of your life has your back! If you’re not throwing caution to the wind in your relationship with Christ (not worried about speaking of him, not concerned more about your circumstances than you are with his interests – the kingdom of God, and not growing more passionate about your valuable time together), we pray that you begin do so. Remember love is a two way street, if it’s not reciprocated, it may leave you altogether. God loves you more than you can know and he continues to showcase it every day. What are you scared of in showing that same love and dedication to him? Think about it….. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!