JESUS LOVES YOU

March 12th, 2024

Fear is torment and who wants to live in torment? Most of us do not yet the Apostles Paul and John address fear as a reality many of us face. This week our devotional writers tackle the topic “Victory Over Fear.” May our faith be strengthened by God’s Word and encouraged through these devotionals.

SCRIPTURE: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7
SCRIPTURE: “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

A poet has said “I Fear God, and next to God, I chiefly fear him who fears Him not.” Fear (Gk. Phobeomal) means “to be frightened”, “alarmed”, or “terrified.” John states in I John that people fear because they anticipate pain, torture, or punishment. Yes, the fool who says in his heart there is no God should fear God. Yet, the challenge in this verse is that as believers because God has first loved us (v.19) we do not need to fear God. As we mature in our love relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ and as we walk in obedience to Him, His love is perfected in us.

I love the song by Jonathan Butler called, “Falling in Love with Jesus” because it just encourages my heart to be reminded that accepting Jesus into my heart is where the love relationship started, and it is the best thing I’ve ever done. I believed in my heart that He died for ME – that’s LOVE; I believed in my heart that HE rose from the grave – that’s LOVE; I believed in my heart that He has forgiven all my sins – that’s LOVE; I believed in my heart that I will live with HIM for eternity – that’s LOVE and all of the other promises that are written in HIS WORD – that’s LOVE!!!

The only healthy fear stated in God’s Word is in Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…” This fear is a reverential obedient type of fear that provides a submissive spirit to grow in the wisdom of God. Now that I have a love relationship with our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ, I need His wisdom to grow in the knowledge of His will and to please Him – that’s my LOVE for HIM!!!

Prayer: Lord, thank You for demonstrating that You “so loved the world” that I was included in that choice from eternity past. As I grow in Your love may my heart be expanded in the experience and demonstration of Your love in my obedience to You and my love to others.
By Sis. Cheryl Torain