There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts off fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. -- John 4:18, Restoration Light Improved Version.
MIGHTY, imposing and terrifying indeed is the influence of fear, except upon those who have learned to know the Lord through previous experiences, and to trust Him even where they cannot trace Him. The giant of fear and despair must be met with the pebble from the brook, "It is written." The sling of faith must propel the word of promise with such force as to slay the adversary and to deliver us from his domination ....Thus armed only with the Word of God, and trusting in His rod and staff, we may well be courageous and answer imposing sectarianism as David answered the Philistine, "Thou comest to me with a sword and a spear and a javelin: but I come to thee in the name of Jehovah of hosts, the God of... Israel, which thou hast defiled." -- Based on excerpts from "Our Sufficiency is of God", ZWT, August 15, 1903.
<><><><><><>
John was not writing about the proper fear, or reverence of Jehovah. The proper fear leads to a willingness to be obedient to Jehovah in the sense that we have a fear of displeasing our Heavenly Father. Such a fear has been likened to a child who fears to displease his father, and who thus always seeks to be pleasing to his father. The kind of fear our text is speaking of is that which results from a lack of trust in the Heavenly Father. With complete love and faith in Jehovah, fear of all the various kinds of circumstances in life is thrown out. In this age, however, only a very few attain this goal of perfect love toward God, and thus many continue in fear -- a dread or terror -- related to various circumstances in life. -- Ronald R. Day, Sr.
RELATED SCRIPTURES
Deuteronomy 20:8
Judges 7:3
Psalm 73:19
Psalm 88:15
Psalm 88:16
Proverbs 28:1
Provervs 29:25
Isaiah 51:12,13
Matthew 8:26
Matthew 26:69-74
Roman 8:15
1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Galatians 5:16
2 Timothy 1:7
James 2:19
1 John 2:5
1 John 4:12
1 John 4:16
1 John 4:17
Some related studies online (we do not necessarily agree with all statements and conclusions given):
No comments:
Post a Comment