There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection] (1 John 4:18 AMPC).
Friend to Friend
Not all fear is bad. It is good to be afraid of sticking your hand in a
fire, crossing a busy street with your eyes closed, or jumping off a
cliff. That is good healthy fear.
Bad fear is fear of present circumstances and future events that may or
may never happen. Being too afraid to step out and do what God has
called you to do. Being so worried about the consequences that you throw
trusting God out the window. That’s an unhealthy fear.
The Holy Spirit will warn you with a healthy sense of fear to protect
you, but He will never stir up worry to stymie your faith. I’ve often
heard it said that worry is a down payment on a problem you may never have.
And it’s true! Rehearsing your troubles before they even happen causes
you to experience them many times, whereas you were not meant to
experience them but once--when or if they actually occur.
Most of the biggest challenges you will ever face will be the result of
things you never even thought to worry about or even crossed your mind.
They will blindside you on a Thursday afternoon at 2:00, when you never
saw it coming. You will not even have known that you should have
worried about the possibility! (Now, don’t let that get you worried.)
We waste valuable time and forfeit the thriving faith when we allow “what ifs” to hold us captive.
What if I’m embarrassed?
What if I’m rejected?
What if I fall flat on my face?What if I fail?
What if one or all of these things do happen when I step forward in obedience? I’ll live. God will be right there with me.
Here’s the bigger question: What if I don’t step forward in obedience?
What if I ignore God’s prompting? I might miss out on one of His
greatest blessings of my life.
Do you believe God loves you? I’m thinking you just answered yes. Then
why do you worry that He doesn’t have your best interest in mind? He
will not allow or initiate any circumstance in your life that is not
filtered through His sovereign love for you. You will make it! Life
might not unfold as you imagined, but when you place your hand in His
and trust in His love, you will survive and most likely thrive.
Paul had an incredible attitude about the “what ifs” in his life. He had the mind-set of bring it on.
The Pharisees couldn’t stand him, but they found his attitude made it
impossible to stop him. They threw him in prison and he said, “That’s
OK. Give me some parchment and ink. I’ll write some letters to the
churches. I’ll write to them about how to have joy in all
circumstances.”
They chained him to a prison guard and he said, “That’s OK. I’ll tell
him about Jesus. As a matter-of-fact, I’ll bring his whole family to
Christ!”They threatened to kill him and he said, “That’s OK. I’ll get to go to heaven and be with Jesus. What could be better?”
Paul faced his fears and booted them out the door with the love of God. What do you do to a guy like that?
Paul wrote: “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!” (Philippians 1:21–22).
He wasn’t worried or concerned about his future. Paul was at peace with whatever happened on his faith journey because He trusted in the character and love of God. And with a faith like that, the natural consequence is to live bold. And that’s what we can do today!
Let’s Pray
Heavenly Father, I will not walk in fear today. I will kick fear out of
the door... give it the boot. I know that You will guide me as I walk
in obedience today. If my act of obedience appears to result in a
failure, I know that it is not, because obeying you is the ultimate
success regardless of the apparent outcome. Oh Lord, I breathe in peace
and exhale worry.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Today's Bible Verse...
[Jesus said] "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my
judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."—John 5:30
Thoughts on Today's Verse...
"So
who you tryin' to please, anyway?" These words of my dad still ring in
my ears. His point? There are only two we MUST please: (1) our Father in
heaven, because all praise and honor is due to him, and (2) ourselves,
because we want to know that we've done the best we could do and been
the best we could be. But I guess I've learned over the years that I
can't begin to do the second of those very well without seeking the
first one. Don't you hope that someday you reach the place where you can
join Jesus in saying with absolute assurance: "I seek not to please
myself but him who sent me!" The closer we approach that reality, the
more we realize that we can't do anything of eternal significance on our
own. Only when we live to honor God do we find the significance and
have the impact that our lives were made to have.
My Prayer...
Almighty and Righteous Father, I know that without you I can do nothing that is of lasting significance. I have tried my own way and failed. I have sought my own good and seen my success short-lived. I want to live now, today and the rest of my life to please you. As I do this, I am confident that you will provide what I need and that you will empower me to do what you would have me do. In Jesus' name I thank you. Amen.
The Thoughts and Prayer on Today's Verse are written by Phil Ware.
Today's Verse Illustrated...
Friendly? Church by Joseph Farris
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