No Fear in Love

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...NIV


1 John is probably one of my favorite books in the Bible on love...it has spoken to me most of my Christian walk, as an example of how God's agape (love), or His emptying out and self-sacrifice (definition of agape) has driven out fear and emboldened me to continue to seek to be made perfect in love.


While I have extrapolated this verse, it really is much bolder in context of the entire book of 1 John.


Today the Spirit is speaking to me about speaking truth and love and that they are one in the same = JESUS. I think I have often, out of fear to appear offensive, or because i felt that I had a "plank" in my eye, that I was unable to speak truth...I continue to realize that I must speak truth and that the Word is truth. Doesn't matter how I feel about it, if I like it or not; doesn't make it NOT truth. I have spent a lot of time justifying why that shouldn’t be truth, and many years side-stepping around the fact that it IS true and suddenly I am finally submitted to the fact that not only IS it true, but one of the main problems in many lives is simply that we don’t want to say the truth, and we definitely don’t want to hear (or like hearing) the truth. OK, so I am guilty, Father and I beg forgiveness!


Selah……

 If I withhold truth or do not tell you the truth, especially out of fear, then how is love perfected in me? Am I so concerned about how you will "feel" about it, that I am silent? Do I speak truth, out of my love for you, my concern and for your welfare, or do I sit on it and remain silent (tolerance) so that I do not offend? (Insert healthy fear of God on my part here because of what I will have to give account for when I stand before Him).


In all of Scripture I don't see that Jesus....I mean I see the Jesus who speaks absolute truth in love which is His motivation but He is speaking, He is not silent....


My prayer and confession for today is:


May I have the courage Lord, to be the truth, follow Your truth, and speak Your Truth, despite the planks in my eye, to my Christian family out of reverence to You lest I appear on Judgment day and give an account for my sin of not speaking.


Love is the only thing that remains...it remains more than my faith or my hope according to 1 Cor 13. It is the greatest of these three things.


I may be a broken vessel, Lord. I may have a huge plank in my eye, but grant me courage to not let that deter me from speaking Your truth. You tell us that if anyone professes that Jesus Christ is Lord that he is from God.


Then, Father, let me acknowledge that in everything that is spoken to me....that I will search for what You would have for me, and ignore the vessel in which you bring it to me through. Let it not be about how they speak it, but only that I hear YOU in it.


Likewise, let the Truth you give to me, by speaking Your Word, be edifying and bring about fruit and I thank you that your Word never returns void, in Jesus’ name, Amen!


My heart hurts…


When, oh when, church, will we begin to speak the truth, regardless of the offense? When will we stop running around with itching ears seeking what feels good and sounds good and calling THAT truth when that is just stroking our egos and our flesh?


I pray personally that I am no longer afraid to hear the truth and to be perfected in love as this verse says!


Thank you, Lord!