JESUS LOVES YOU
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
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
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
Archive
2024
January
Gratitude Mixed with Faith Should Equal ObedienceGrace Comes In God’s TimingGOD USES WHOM HE CHOOSESSeeing What God Sees to Get What God HasA Life Verse That Is Good for Every YearSeeing Things as God Sees ThemThree QuestionsDon’t Worry About the FutureForgiveness Is Our Daily CelebrationPeace When We Do RightGod’s True Children Certainly Should KnowRegret In Missed OpportunitiesThe Attitude of Delight Is RightMeditation Deprivation Is EvidentARE YOU A DISCIPLE OR JUST A CONVERT?An Anchored Soul Won’t QuitGod Wants to Be BelievedFinding God in Our PainI Must Be About God’s WordWhat the Wondrous Word of God Can Do in a Willing ServantSeeing Things God’s WayGetting Along for Jesus SakeMeditating Brings Us Success In The Christian LifeThe State of Mind That Pleases GodPraised By the RaisedHaving the Right Knowledge for Real FaithWhose Mind Do You Think With?All My Heart & All My WaysWise with the Lord’s TimeNo Shame About What God Has SaidPrayer Is A Conversation
February
DEEP ARMOR FOR THE STEEP CLIMBDressed in the Whole Armor of God for Spiritual WarfareGRAB THAT ARMORSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIn My Dressing Room (Putting on the Armor of God)Armored for Any WeatherTruth is Foundation for Our FaithA Work in Progress and A Mouth in TrainingREJECTION OF GOSSIP, SLANDER, LIES, AND DISCORD: THE PERFECTING OF 'FEBRUARY'THE DETESTABLESSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLIf the Lord Hates It, We Should TooThe Offense Ward of the Sin HospitalSpilling the TeaWe are in ChristLet us Do BetterSpread Love, Not GossipSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLThe GREATEST THRILL: Being SPIRIT - FilledTHE HOLY SPIRIT'S CONTROLA Drunken SpiritLookin’ Like Our DaddyFermented or Fresh; How is Your Fruit?We Have it AllSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER WITH PASTOR WAYNE COCKRELLJESUS’ LOVE MANDATEHIS Walk, Our Hopethe greatest gift of allTo Love Like Christ
March
LOVE x LOVELove is CommitmentSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor CockrellTHE HIGHEST DEBT OF LOVEPREVAILING IN LOVE, AND IN THE LIGHT OF THE PROMISEReturn Your Love to METhe Loveless ChurchWhat Do You Want First: the Good News or the Bad News?POSITIVE FRICTION THAT MAKES US BETTERSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHis Love Versus My FearsJESUS LOVES YOUBe Surrendered to 'Love'Victory Over Fear: Life’s Small LessonsJesus, Our VictoryTRUST CHRIST, BANISH FEARSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellHarmony and Discord Aren’t FriendsHOLY PARAMETERSBlinded by HateACT or REACTRESISTING ANGER AND HATE IN CONFLICTPeculiar PeopleSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne CockrellONWARD & UPWARDHow To Fall ForwardThe Front Windshield is Much Bigger than the Rearview MirrorONE THING TO DOLooking Back Will Have You SaltyGreat Cloud of WitnessesSUNDAY MORNING PRAYER with Pastor Wayne Cockrell
2 Comments
Amen! 🎶OH how I love Jesus, oh how I love Jesus, because He first loved me!!!🎶❤️
Amen, Sis.Cheryl! You said it all! “What manner of love the Father has bestowed on us!”🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽