Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. I John 4:17
Perfect love, Wow! Isn’t that what we all desire? No fear of failure, no fear of rejection, no fear of losing hope, no fear of pain nor sorrow. Fear torments the soul, never allowing rest–what if he or she leaves me? What if they get angry? What if my heart is irreparably broken? What if… and the list goes on. Perfect love casts away all the doubt and fear!! Most of us would cry out “sign me up” I want that! So, it all hinges on that word “Herein is our love made perfect.”
“Herein” is a declaration used within binding legal contracts. Within these words are bound the truth of our love being perfected. So we must go to the verses just before this statement and only there find our way to this perfect love that removes all fear.
God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into this wicked world to bring to us eternal life through his death. In this act we see what real love is: it is not our love for God but his love for us when he sent his Son to satisfy God’s anger against our sins. Anyone who believes and says that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him, and he is living with God. We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly…God is love I John 4:9,10,15,16 (TLB)
As we begin to grasp the absolute magnitude of the gospel story, accept Jesus Christ as our Savior; God begins a work within us that is perfecting His Love in us. Any fear of love in any of its forms (parental, friendship, companionship, patriotic, or universal) demonstrates that we do not fully understand the depth of God’s perfect love within us.
If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us. So you see, our love for him comes as a result of his loving us first. I John 4:18 TLB
Then, as His love grows within us, our capacity to love others also grows. When we begin to understand that, our own eyes are opened to see the hurting, the downcast, and take a moment to listen. I know, for I have watched this occur in my life. Love is no more about what I need or desire. As God fills me completely with His love, I can now love unafraid of pain or sorrow. My source to love comes from God within me; not, from the response of those whom I have loved. No longer do I expect a response. Even when they reject or turn from that love, I can keep on demonstrating love. It is by Grace Alone that God loved me. Loving others does not mean I embrace all their wanton behaviors; rather, I look for the root pain that may be driving their behavior. I present Christ. If they walk away, I am still free to lovingly pray for them. My heart breaks as I watch so much pain and suffering in this great nation that I love. So, much hate and division. I wish I had the resources to reach more, to do more and to spread the message of God’s love.
A POLITICAL EXAMPLE OF TRANSFORMING LOVE
Over the last year, I have watched the transformation of one of our political candidates. I bring this up here because I do believe as a Christian, it is our duty to vote and to stand up for a candidate. At the beginning, I was very frustrated with the political scene. I prayed and wondered “God what are you doing?” Yet, God was Sovereign. Then, I watched as one of the candidates emerged. Gruff, at first. Not very eloquent. As time went by, I watched as this candidate went out to the people and listened. Listened to the Haitians in Miami, listened to the inner city people who were hurting, went to the churches, listened to the workers and listened. This candidate began to transform. The news media rose up against them; perhaps, as emails proved the news media had been bought. I really was uncertain what to believe until I started listening to the actual speeches of both candidates. Day after day, I have watched. I go to YouTube and listen to the entire speech. Over the months, I have watched one transform into a compassionate, loving, caring person who truly wants to work for the people, all the people. I have also listened while the other has spewed words of hate, anger and hostility–denouncing ¼ of all Americans as irredeemable deplorables–not once, not twice; but three times if you include their interview on Israeli TV. Ok, by now you realize that yes, I am voting for Donald J. Trump. If you were to take a moment and really listen to even one of his speeches (not the medias snip-its of a speech) then you would realize what I mean. Go, listen to the town halls and the meetings where he sits and listens to the workers, to the down trodden, to the teachers, the church leaders, the generals, Dr. Carson and to his running mate, Mike Pence.
BECAUSE OF LOVE, I MUST PRAY AND VOTE
Even if I had not personally watched his transformation over the months, I still would as a Christian have to stand by Mr. Trump due to the Supreme Court justices that will be appointed, due to religious liberties which are being trampled on at present, and due to the severe wedge of hate that has been driven among our people of the United States of America. Once more, we must rise up with compassion, love, and grace to heal our wounds; so that we can become United as one nation. Until now, I have remained silent on the political end for fear of what others would think. Ah, but God’s perfect love drives out all fear. I must stand for truth and not the political rhetoric of the news. I will continue to pray for our nation.
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
[tweetthis]We, who profess the name of Christ; must, stand in the gap for our nation[/tweetthis]We must with love reach out to all those who are hurting. We must lay aside any selfish, prideful sins which we have so that we can be perfected in the love of Christ. Only then can we present Christ to those in need of Him. [bctt tweet=”Only as we remember the depth of Grace we have received, can we give Graceful love to the world” username=”effiedarlene”]
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Living Bible (TLB) The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
©Effie Darlene Barba, 2016
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.