Years ago a friend and I memorized 1 John. It took us over a year, adding two verses at a time. Living first only states apart and then completely across the country from each other, we would meet by the blessing of the phone line and recite to each other every two weeks. When we came to verses we didn’t understand we would still memorize and in those days of meditation meanings would be revealed. We would rejoice as we found the same understanding had been given though we walked different roads and plowed different fields.
Those were precious days, though not without hardship, rutted with child rearing difficulties, traveling husbands, and broken relationships. 1 John became comfort food, meatloaf thick with baked ketchup, to which I could turn to be reminded God loves me, He is present, His power overcomes evil.
As I walked closer with the Lord, however, I began to realize that my life was characterized by fear. Yes, I know, all throughout the Bible I am told to not be afraid. Easier said than done. And life got harder… Life threatening illnesses and injuries, failed businesses, legal attacks, friends MIA… fear continued to brew and simmer.
Longing for comfort, I would return to 1 John. There, over and over, I would read with eyes closed:
“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.” 1John 4:18
In the darkness of my closed eyes and wounded, fearful heart I could not understand. I needed to love more and that would take away my fear? I needed to love these trials, or in these trials?
So the Holy Spirit, full of compassion and mercy, gently led me back a few verses and opened my eyes:
“God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is Love Perfected with us, so that we may have confidence…”
It’s not my love that drives out fear, it’s HIM. God is Perfect Love. He casts out fear. I must abide in HIM.
This heart healing message returned to me last Sunday as our pastor spoke on Philippians 4:8-9:
“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and heard and seen in me- practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
“This is not encouragement for positive thinking!” he exclaimed. “Truth is not always easy, justice can come with a price”
Following along in my Bible, I read a note penned years prior in the margin: Each of these is personified in Jesus.
In these days marked by heart wrenching news stories, there is much to cause fear. Let us who have learned, received, heard and seen walk in confidence abiding in Perfect Love worshiping Him who is True, Honorable, Just, Pure, Lovely, Commendable, Excellent, Alone Worthy of Praise, lighting the path for those gripped with fear. Fear has no foothold on the path of worship.
“I write to you, children, because you know the Father
I write to you, fathers, because you know Him who is from the beginning
I write to you, young men, because you are strong,
and the Word of God lives in you
and you have overcome the evil one.”
1John 2:13b-14
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons!” (Romans 8:15)
May we be used of Christ to redeem these fearful days professing to others: “He is the true God and eternal life.” 1John 5:20b
Good words for these tough times.
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