No Room in Love for Fear

A few weeks ago, Ben shared some reflections on 1 John 4:18. Last night, I realized that today a difficult conversation needed to take place. (Actually, it is kind of weird how this keeps happening - realizing that things need to happen - the next day!) In due time, I'll be able to share some more details, but for now, suffice it to say that I was pretty much scared. It was a timing thing again and the safest way for me would have been to not discuss this for awhile or at all. Yet, sometimes the safest way is not the right or the best way. So last night, this verse came into my head and a peace and a sense of boldness and determination came over me all way to the 4:00 PM meeting. "Well-formed love banishes out fear." It doesn't get much better than that.

God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love. (1 John 4:17-18)

And of course, the conversation ended up going just fine and there was nothing to fear at all.

Take care,

Todd