Word of the day: 1 John 4 vs 18 – There is no fear in love
Caption: There is no fear in love
Memorise: There is no fear in love but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love – 1 John 4:18 KJV
1 John 4:18 – NLT – Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.
1 John 4:18 – AMP – There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love].
1 John 4:18 – NIV – There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
1 John 4:18 – TPT – Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection.
Bible verse in Yoruba:
1 Johannu 04:18 – Ìbẹru kò si ninu ifẹ; ṣugbọn ifẹ ti o pé nlé ibẹru jade: nitoriti ìbẹru ni iyà ninu. Ẹniti o bẹ̀ru kò pé ninu ifẹ.
Key: Have you ever wondered why you claim you love God but you have various fears in you. Fears like not loving God rightly, fears of God not loving you, fears of falling back into sin, fears of dying or going to hell after everything.
You are having those fears because you don’t love God. You have just fashioned your fears into love (imaginary love for God). These fears keep tormenting you at every given time. You find yourself living holy just because of the fears and not love for the father which makes you depressed or sad at every point because you feel you are making mistakes or not doing things perfectly.
Love has no fear! Perfect love casts out fear!
Let go of the fear. God is not a wicked father. Even when you were a sinner, he loved you. Now imagine when you decided to love him. God loves you even in your imperfections.
Love God without bothering about doing it perfectly or without him loving you back because he loves you. Love God in joy, with the whole of your heart and let go of fear.
Reflection: We love Him because He first loved us.
