This week we are going to be looking deeper at 1 John 4: 13-21:

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Today we’ll look at the second part of this passage and what it means to our lives today.  I want to especially focus on something that is so important for us to know. Perfect love casts out all fear.

Fear is a terrible thing.  I know I’m afraid of a lot. I used to joke my worst fear was being on top of a tall building being chased by a snake with a needle.  I’ve got my share of fears, and I know that we all do. Some of us are fearless, but most of us are afraid of at least one thing.

Today we are told that God’s perfect love casts out all fear. Why is that?  Because we are perfectly loved and accepted into God’s presence through the work of Jesus Christ.  What have we to fear?  We will never be apart from God’s presence.  He will never leave us nor forsake us, no matter what is going on.  No human issue will keep us away.

No sin can separate us, because we’ve already been told if we confess He will forgive.

Even death is not to be feared because Jesus has overcome it.  We nothing to fear. Even our sufferings can draw us closer to God.  Perfect love doesn’t just redeem us, it redeems our circumstances, our lives, our pains, our hurts, our fears, our everything.

Perfect love redeems everything, so we have nothing to fear because it has all been washed away by the amazing grace of Jesus.

Whom shall I fear?

No one.  Nothing.  Nothing.  We have no reason to be afraid.  Do not fear.

If you’d like to get each day’s daily scripture reading sent to your phone along with this reading guide, text @39110 to 81010 to sign up!