1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love ~ 1 John 4:18


When someone lives in fear from those they think or believe love them, there has been an action(s) which has caused them to doubt the sincerity of “love”. I place love in brackets because true love, as this scripture declares, will not lead to distrust but trust, not in faithlessness but to faithfulness. Many people are “damaged”, in fact, we all are. We are more or less born that way. Some families damage us even more through abuse both physical and emotional, through trauma, through non-commitment. When one lives in those environments it is hard to see love as pure and wholesome, it is hard to see love as perfect. And those who live in those environments often do not ever expect to see or experience a “perfect love” and so they settle for less. Our example of perfect love is found in Jesus Christ and in God our Father. It is found in the servanthood of Christ who gave his life for all that we might know him and spend eternity here and after with him and through his ministry here on earth. The Apostle Paul describes well what true love is, and the plain truth is that though we may strive to attain it, without Christ in our heart it is near impossible to do so. If you want to love perfectly, here is the way:

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

We can all rise to this description of love, no matter what our background, but when you allow Christ to work in your heart you will find the journey and transformation much smoother to transition.

Pastor Julia

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