Yep, looks like I'm going to stick with this verse, because... well, I can ;) And because there's more that I leave the Lord wants tell us (yeah, me included).
We talked about 'no fear in love'. We talked about 'fear has to do with punishment'. Today, let's talk about 'perfect love driving out fear and the 'one who fears not being made perfect in love'.
When we picture 'driving out' something, we probably picture something being forcefully pushed out of the way, out of the picture, out of our lives. I picture, cattle being driven out by the cowboys in those 'old' pictures. Out their pens into the open field where they can feed.
Hmmmm.... might be a correlation there. God's perfect love - meaning all those things in 1 Corinthians 13, that include the fact that He will never, ever leave us or forsake us or cause harm to us. THAT kind of love, if allowed into our hearts will calm us down when we're anxious; it will give us courage when we're afraid; it will make us bold in the face of adversity; it will give us strength when we are weak and give us rest when we are tired. THAT kind of love DRIVES out fear. Fear of man, fear of fear, fear of pain, fear of just about anything.
I was on a side of a mountain once and the path was about a foot (no lie, maybe even not that) across winding around this mountain. It was out a Mt. St. Helens the mountain at the observatory. Some how, I just can't stay away from mountains - there's something special about them to me. Majestic, quiet, but something to be conquered. On the other side was a beautiful lake (from what I was told). It did have a sign that said 'experienced hikers only'. I considered myself ok with that. The path was ok at first.
Well, got about 1/4 mile in and got to this small path. No guardrail, just about a 1/2 mile drop, pretty sheer drop on the right. I was hugging this mountain, like I'd known it all my life... and not looking down. Got about half-way to the lake and yep, you guessed it - I looked down. Fear crept in, I tried to trudge on, the pounding in my chest got worse. I became paralyzed with panic. I am so glad no one else was there coming the opposite direction. See, I don't have a fear of heights, I have a fear of falling ;) I turned around, because if I did get to the lake, I knew I would have to come back!
What happened? I took my eyes off of the path and looked at my circumstances - then all these thoughts of what could happen floated through my mind.
Isn't it that what we do with the Lord and our lives? I could have stopped at any time, closed my eyes and allowed God's love to calm my fears. He had me - He's invested a lot of time (according to our time) in my life. It came down to trust. I chose to give in to fear... and not the love of God.
I will go back and I will conquer that path someday.... hopefully before I get too 'old' to do it ;)
We are made 'perfect in God's love' when we look to Him to DRIVE out the fear of whatever. We are all those things that He says we are when we trust in His Love - THAT is what it means to be made 'perfect' in His Love. His Perfection comes out in us. Who He is comes out in us.... and THROUGH us to others - to a dying world that desperately needs to know His Love and peace; His mercy and grace. When we allow that, He looks at us like a Master Painter or Potter, steps back and does that little kissing His fingers and throwing His Hand to the air and says 'My Masterpiece'!!!
Let's begin to let Him clothe us in that Love of His that makes us perfect in Him.
You Never Let Go - Matt Redman
No comments:
Post a Comment