A Perfect Love

First John chapter 4 verse 18 say's "There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment, and he that feareth is not made perfect in love." The Bible tells us that in Christ we are not to have fear. Unfortunately fear is part of our human nature, as well as worrying. Throughout the Bible the words fear and worry are often used interchangeably. How often do we find ourselves wrapped up in our daily lives worrying about what needs to get done, how the bills will get paid, or how the kids will be raised. How often we forget that we have a God that gives us the answers and the peace we need to give up those fears and worries.

In the book of Luke chapter 12 starting in verse 4-7 Jesus tells us about fear. "I tell you, My friends, do not fear those who kill the body, and after that have nothing more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear Him who after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear Him! Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? And not one of them is forgotten before God. Why even the hairs on your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows." So Jesus is telling us that the only thing to be afraid of is Him. If you have given your heart to Christ than He takes on all of your fears and worries. He cares about you so much that He even knows how many hairs are on your head. No worry is to small for Him.

Jesus gives us a command concerning worry in the book of Matthew chapter 6 starting in verse 24 through 30. " Therefore I say unto you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for  they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so cloths the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith." In this passage Jesus tells us to look at the world around us when we are in fear and be reminded of His provision and care. He talks of birds and flowers and how well they are cared for and yet they do nothing to earn this provision. Jesus goes on to say that we are so much more important to Him than the birds of the air or the flowers in the field, we will be cared for much better than they.

Jesus goes on to finish His command in verses 31 through 34. "Therefore do not worry saying 'What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Here lies Christ's promise to us. He promises that if we trust in Him He will provide all that we need.

Now does this mean that it will get any easier to let go of those things that we worry over and fear, or that once we do give them up they will never return? Unfortunately fear and worry is part of our sinful nature that we were given as a result of the fall of man. We are human and we will have fear, but what this means is that if we trust God and lay our fears and worries at the foot of the cross, He will provide everything that we need, even if that means we are praying for the same thing over and over again, don't give up on God, He will never give up on you.So I leave you with this question : How big is your God?