“FEAR NOT (yare’: to be fearful, or terrified), for I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED (shaah: to look away), for I AM YOUR GOD. I will STRENGTHEN you, yes, I will help you, I will UPHOLD you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“GOD HAS NOT GIVEN US A SPIRIT OF FEAR, but of POWER and of LOVE and of a SOUND MIND (sōphronismos: allows us to properly act out God’s will).” (2 Timothy 1:7)
What is more POWERFUL than fear? “LOVE (agapē: pure, willful, sacrificial godly love that intentionally desires another’s highest good.) has been perfected among us in this: that WE MAY HAVE BOLDNESS in the day of judgment; because as HE IS, so are we in this world. There is NO FEAR IN LOVE; but PERFECT LOVE (agapē: is perfect because it is God’s love) CASTS OUT FEAR, because fear involves torment. But HE WHO FEARS HAS NOT BEEN MADE PERFECT IN LOVE.” (1 John 4:17-18)
Just why is love so powerful? “Dear friends, let us love one another, for LOVE (agapē) COMES FROM GOD. Everyone who LOVES (agapaō) has been BORN OF GOD and KNOWS GOD. Whoever DOES NOT LOVE DOES NOT KNOW GOD, because
GOD IS LOVE.” (1 John 4:7-8)
OK, just what is our responsibility with this love? “This is real love—not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son AS A SACRIFICE TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, WE SURELY OUGHT (opheilō: we are bound, we owe this love to others) TO LOVE EACH OTHER.” (1 John 4:10-11) Just so we would understand, Jesus said it like this, “I am giving a NEW COMMANDMENT to you now—LOVE EACH OTHER JUST AS I HAVE LOVED YOU. Your strong love for each other WILL PROVE to the world that you are MY DISCIPLES.” (John 13:34-35)
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham