This has been a busy morning already. The coffee is done and the new flavor for me to try today is Door County Chocolate Caramel Truffle. The jury is out on this one. Maybe I will be able to decide after the second cup if this one will make it back into the cupboard again. A pot of cheddar broccoli soup is simmering slowly in the kitchen. Supper will be grand tonight.
1 John 4:18New King James Version (NKJV)
18 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.As I gaze out the window of my den I still see piles of snow covering our vegetable garden. The soil has produced many vegetables throughout the years. Certainly nothing is growing there right now, but the potential is there, after it warms up and the soil is tilled and seeds are planted.
Love is a lot like soil it needs to be warmed, tilled and planted in order to produce good fruit. The prefect unconditional love of Jesus Christ ; Romans 5:8New King James Version (NKJV)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. is perfect love. We often miss out or are unable to love other people out of fear. The love that Jesus has for us is sacrificial love. He took away the fear of eternal death for those who are saved in Him. That is the ultimate fear for all. So what is there left to fear? Why do we find it impossible to love others?
Well maybe they have betrayed you. Haven't you betrayed Jesus at one time or another? Jesus still loves you. Can't we forgive and choose love?
Maybe some how they hurt you. Haven't you hurt the Son of God with your sins? Jesus still loves you. Can't we forgive and choose love?
Perfect love has no fear. Like soil it needs to be tilled. You have to try love and stick with it in order for it to produce fruit. If I just stare at my garden all summer and wait for tomatoes to grow I might get one plant from a wild seed left over from last year, but that is highly doubtful. Even if it does grow it will be choked by weeds if I don't protect it and nurture the soil.
"Whatever a person may be like, we must still love them because we love God." ( John Calvin)
We often miss out on healing an emotional wound or finding a new friend out of fear. The fear of being hurt again, or the fear of being rejected can and does paralyze our hearts from experiencing the prefect love that Jesus so much wants us to have for others.
You and I need love each day. Jesus loves you but wants you to love perfectly which might be hard for you to do. But that sacrificial perfect love is a step toward removing the fear of risking your heart in love. Go for it. No where in the Bible do I find that Jesus ever regretted loving us.
God bless,
Marty
No comments:
Post a Comment