Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection. 1 John 4:18 TPT
Two different concepts; two diferent realities. Love and fear find residence and expression through the hearts of men. Both concepts even have spiritual impact and implications and both also have spiritual and physical consequences. God would have me examine my heart again today in the light of today's extract. If what you have in your heart is love, there is no room for fear.
The opposite is also true. Love consumes the totality of a man's heart, just as fear also does. The problem with fear has to do with its origin and purpose, which is to make you avoid punishment. It awakens in you a sense of dread, reminding you daily that if you do not do what is right by the law, you will be punished. Factually, there is nothing wrong with this; after all, the law was established to guide conduct and regulate behaviour, but when all you can think of is how not to break the law and less of how you can impact a fellow man, then the focus is wrong and the heart is distracted.
However, if my heart is full of love, it is set free to relate with other people from the perspective of impact. I seek ways to bless other people. There is no law on earth that can make true love a sin or a crime. Examples abound of earthly kingdoms which tried to push an agenda of hatred and bitterness, but where are they today? What makes love even more interesting is that it is linked to who God is. God is described as Love Himself.
If I will claim to love other people, I must first love God. If I do not love God, it doesn't matter what else I do. And of course, eternity is tied to the contents and focus of my heart now. What does it look like now? If the Lord were to xray my heart and reveal its content to me, what would it be: full of love, who is God, or full of fear, which is of the devil? Remember, God is not mocked. His time of favour is here.
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