Fear to Love: LOVE perfected

By Carole L. Haines 

We are going to look at one final thing about God’s Perfect Love; how it is perfected in us.  

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.” (1 John 4:11-13) 

God’s love is perfect, and only His perfect love for us can cast fear out of our lives. Growing in His Love in only possible through the powerful work of His Holy Spirit in and through us. His love has been poured out within us already and gives us great Hope (Romans 5:5) But we must learn to get out of our own way, so that more of His perfect love can pour out within us, and then through us. 

This is no small feat. I had one of my old Pastor’s say to me, “You should focus more on loving people.” I just didn’t get that at the time. That was about 20 years ago. But I totally get what He was saying now. When we read the above passage from 1 John 4, we see that God’s love both abides in us and is perfected in us, but how? 

By loving one another as He has loved us. My old Pastor was right. I was so busy studying God’s Word but neglecting to love His people. Thank you, Pastor Ralf, for speaking truth into my life. I am finally getting what you meant. I have learned about loving one another mostly through the Ministry of Celebrate Recovery. It’s not all about addictions and such. I joined to help me overcome my Social Anxiety and thr Season of Great Loss I had just been through. My husband and I lead in this Ministry now. It is such a blessing. If you are dealing with hard stuff, I highly recommend this Ministry. They have Chapters everywhere.  

Ultimately, It is in learning of God more deeply and intimately that begins to cast fear out. It is in Loving one another that God’s love abides and is perfected in us. So let’s get busy Knowing and Loving God, and being safe people who love others unconditionally. 

This has been a wonderful journey with you all. I will be expanding and updating this Reflection on moving from Fear into God’s Perfect love as an ebook. Please look for it soon on Amazon. But let me leave you with this encouragement from the Word of God. 

“This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:6-7 NLT) 

Be Blessed, Dear Believer.