Perfected Love

This is a continuation from the last entry “Extravagance”…

ON FEAR
Even though the abundant life promise can be incredibly exciting, it can also be really scary. Just by the nature of God, we can be assured His plan for our lives will lead us out of our personal comfort zone.

He wants to do immeasurable more in us and through us than we can even imagine and, it will be by HIS power, not our own. This means we won’t be able to control the outcome if God is truly running the show. Drat!

I’m sure the three men Jesus called to on the sea shore that day 2,000 years ago didn’t know what was going to happen when they followed Jesus. What exactly is a “fisher of men?” But, there was something in Jesus’ eyes, something in the way He spoke, something in the way He loved them which compelled them to follow regardless of their fear.

“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.” 1 John 4:18

I’ve spent quite a bit of my life being afraid. Fear is at the foundation of almost all my sin. I can’t tell you how much of my energy has been wasted on worry. I’ve been consumed with fear that my needs won’t get met the way I want. I’ve also spent too much time and effort in seeking approval from others. It’s something which I constantly fight. I like to be liked! I like to prove myself to others. It often makes me weary.

The fear I’ve experienced has been rooted in my distrust of God’s perfect love. If God loves me perfectly, then my needs will be met in perfect ways. If God loves me so intently, then His approval is all I need. That is why experiencing God’s perfect love is essential to growing our trust and dispelling fear.

What God asks of us is very different. He asks us to “fear God” by trusting Him completely. I found these lovely verses yesterday in Psalm 128:1-2 and have been letting them wash over me like a warm bath:

“How happy are those who fear the Lord – all follow his ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life!”

He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us! Trusting God’s love completely will free me from worry and fear.

In 2009, my prayer is for God to continue to perfect His love in me and through me so my fearful mind is freed up to focus on giving my life away. That is what God means by a rich and abundant life – freed from fear and enjoying the fruit of the labor as I follow His ways!