By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also. (1 John 4:13-21, NRSV)
“Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” Wise words from a wise Jedi…
Fear does nothing but destroy. When we fear something we get angry. When our anger gets to the point of us doing something we have already begun to hate the thing we are going against. And that hatred will lead us to do things we would not have done otherwise. We will cause suffering…
But true love, found in the Father casts out all fear. It gives no room for fear to grow or live.
If we are truly consumed by the love of God through Jesus Christ, we will not fear what the world will do or say because of the love we show. But the love we show must be shown as love. We can not claim to be giving the love of Jesus if the world sees it as hate. Hate and love are never the same. Jesus loved us even when we were not worthy to be in His presence because of our sin. We must do the same for the world. The body of Christ is not a place for those who have it all together. The body of Christ is a hospital full of recovering sinners.
We must love all the world and help them see the love that Jesus has for them.
aSacredRebel 