No Fear in Love – by Toni Babcock
"But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life," (Jude 1:21 KJV).
One purpose of the Holy Spirit dwelling in our lives is to comfort us in the love of God, and empower us to live in His love. Heaven knows we need it in our imperfect world. The Bible says, "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear," (I John 4:18a KJV). It is not my perfect love that casts out fear, but God's perfect love, because once I begin to comprehend His perfect love, I am able to appropriate a love so supernatural it begins to transform my imperfect self.
I read of a psychological principle wherein all negative human emotions can be linked to fear. I had never thought of it that way. In other words for example, unjust anger, hate, envy, or mistrust actually exposes some primal fear in our lives. It's easy to understand then, how appropriating God's perfect love would have a cleansing effect on naturally occurring negative emotions. When through the Spirit I learn to walk in God's love, it becomes easy to comprehend how such negativity can be overcome. Living by faith in the love of God - negative emotions begin to lose their hold.
Toni M. Babcock is a Christian writer and author of The Stone Writer, Christian Fiction for Young Readers and Teens. Contact
