Friday, July 13
There Is No Fear in Love
Narrative Lectionary Daily Devotions written by Kace Leetch from Clergy Stuff.
Earlier in the week we talked about love vs. fear. Here again, we learn that fear and love cannot live in the same space. God desires love, so God knows there is no room for fear in our relationship with God.
The same goes for our human relationships. We cannot be in a loving relationship that is filled with fear. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NCADV), "1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of [some form of] physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime." This means too many in our world have been physically hurt by people they love. And some of those are raped or murdered. But that's not love. God's law of love leaves no room for abuse or violence. If you're being hurt by an intimate partner or know someone who is, please seek help. You are worth more. You are worthy of God's love, and if worthy of God's love, you are certainly worthy of human love, too.
For help, please contact
http://www.thehotline.org/blog/get-help-today/.
Narrative Lectionary Text: 1 John 4:16b-18
So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.
Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.