1 John 4:16-21- “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 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. We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”

We can all identify with how we have allowed ourselves to respond fearfully in relationships, meaning how we can be fearful in the way we see another person and in what they can do or say to us or we can fearfully respond back to a person. These fears in relationships with others can be manifested in - mistrust, criticism, condemning, indifference, building walls, unforgiveness, bitterness or even “hating” like it is mentioned in this passage. Whatever the case, we have no excuse not to love anymore, because we have received God’s perfect and complete love that has driven out fear. Fear and love cannot co-exist. So, if we have God’s love, we no longer live in fear. Fear is a thing of the past!

Let’s consider whether you are struggling in a relationship with another person. Let’s prayerfully come back and remember the redemption we have received through God’s perfect and complete love. His perfect love drives out fear! We can love in God’s perfect and complete love now. And, “let us love one another” as we are commanded to.

“Power to Redeem” by Lauren Daigle
https://youtu.be/Kh8agVOc9bI

-EK