What stops you from loving others!? Many times the fear of the unknown or the fear of getting hurt keeps us in the bondage of not loving.
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. 1 John 4:18
Fear tries to justify why we can’t love. It screams about the injustice or the hypocrisy. It points fingers at others and places the blame on somebody else.
On the other hand, a perfected love changes us and puts us in a giving position with our arms wide open. Love is generous. It has a big heart. It doesn’t take things personally. Love knows what it offers is good and doesn’t apologize for it. Perfected love doesn’t live in doubt. Perfected love doesn’t expect perfection from others but wants to be continually perfected!
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. (1John 3:14)
Love produces life, but if we don’t love we stay in death while alive! That’s something to be concerned about. The enemy wants to steal, kill, and destroy love by tempting us to fear. Jesus came to give us life and give it more abundantly (John 10:10). However, we cannot enjoy the benefits of this abundant life if we resist the Lord with our fears . Instead, we need to resist the devil, and allow the love of God to perfect our love.
Many times we just want to do more for God, but the Lord desires for us to do everything with love in our hearts for God and one another. It is the condition of our heart that matters most to God. Perfected love will continue to speak and change lives. This love is the seed of life that is deposited by God. Any other love is carnal love and is limited, insecure, and temporary.
Love is a pursuer and is not afraid of rejection. A perfected love wants to reach and pursue others. It looks for what it can encourage. It doesn’t look for lack. It doesn’t expect something in return.
Believing in His love will stop the torment. In turn, we can become His agents of love to a world that is tormented with guilt and shame. We must face our fears. There is no other way to grow in love unless we deal with our fears!
Image by Mohamed Hassan from Pixabay