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October 11 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment, because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. 1 John 4:15-18. There is much to accept and act upon within these verses. This is the good new, the Gospel. As we confess that Jesus is our Savior, the life of God enters within us. Since God is the source of all love—the kind that is unselfishly reaching out to us without requiring any merit within ourselves—we are in awe of what is available to us. All fear is cast out and all attempts to be unsure of our standing before God are gone. We have arrived into a family relationship with the Father. It is one of unfathomable intimacy. I see struggle among Christians in their church life, in the family life, and in their relationships within the world. I, too, have experienced these difficulties. Hopefully, as the years pass by, we can find appreciation for how God sees us through those times. If only we could concentrate upon loving others instead of being critical, being self-righteous, or acting in anger. Our fleshly efforts are just plain foolish when we have the presence of God within us. As I think of the subject of fear, it occurs to me that my greatest fear is that I will find silly ways of trusting in myself. I long to be perfected in love—that is the key to life. Dear Father, teach me Your way of love. Out of love will come all the fruit of the Spirit. There will be discipline in this, I know, but it will be because You love me. Let me never react with fear toward my fellowman, or think that any situation is beyond Your power. Love conquers all things. Thank You for allowing me to participate in that great love that defines Your life. Let that same love define my life as well. Amen. |
