Perfect Love


Perfect Love casts out all fear.


It's been awhile since I've looked at that verse and I'd even have to hunt to find where it is again. But even so, I think I'm seeing another side of it that I've never thought of before. I used to just think that by God's perfect Love coming within me all fear would be chased away (except the fear of the Lord of course!). But now I'm seeing that it also could apply in another way as well. It takes God's love within us - that perfect Love - to flow from within us to enable us to fully love others. This is something we cannot do on our own. (I've tried!) But with God's Spirit from within loving through us, we are able to love even those who are difficult for us in and of ourselves to love. Including our enemies. Now, take this a bit further and think of the people whom you fear. The bully at school, the strict boss, those who look at you funny, or those who would even like to take your life through abuse, intimidation, murder. Think of even terrorists. Do we fear these people? Do we cower at the thought of those who haunt darkened streets at night? Yet we're commanded to love even those! So how do we do it? It's through that same perfect love flowing through us. It helps us to love those we have difficulty loving, and in this case including those we fear. Because, if we are able to love them with God's perfect Love from within us, then that Love will trump fear. We will feel love and compassion for others more than the natural fear that arises within us. It is because of this that Jesus was able to say, Father forgive them. And so was Stephen and many others who have faced persecution, crimes, and death at the hands of their enemies. In the words "Forgive them" it is shown that the divine Love within them at that moment overcame all fear. Perfect Love casts out all fear.