Thoughts in Worship

Message Magazine's Online Devotional for Sabbath, June 24, 2017

Audio Link: https://www.spreaker.com/user/reachmanyradio/thoughts-in-worship-06-24-2017

This is devotional thought number two in our devotional series, “Essentials of Faith.” Our subject is “God’s Love for Me.”

Here’s the question for consideration: How does God’s love for me relate to fear?

“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 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. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” (1 John 4:16–21).

Is God the cause of your love? Think about it. The Bible says that we love God because He first loved us. This means the reason we are able to love God is that He loved us first. The causal power that activates our ability to love God, is God. Without God initiating love toward us, we would be unable to reciprocate love.

Many times we miss this point. We make it seem like if we make one step, God will make the next. We have no power to step toward God. We are inept, oblivious, and impotent, so if God waited for us to initiate anything, we would die in our sins. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and thus when He bids us come to Him, within His bidding is the power to respond. This is why His standard of righteousness is so high. Not only is He holy, but He enjoins us to be holy, through His power.

This high standard when misunderstood in the context of God’s judgment makes people fearful. We attempt to do His will in our own strength, and when we fail over and over again, we become dejected, despondent, and guilt ridden. Once we catch our breath and realize what failure means, many of us are horrified, because condemnation, in our minds is coming.
What if we really understood that God is the cause of our love? What if we began to function within that reality? What if we allowed His love to motivate us unto righteous living? What if we surrendered our will to Him, believing fully that every step we take, spiritually speaking, is only as a result of His grace and mercy; that it truly is God that worketh in us the will and to do of His good pleasure? How would we view His judgment then? Well, we don’t have to guess. Our theme text clearly outlines that those who are perfected in His love have absolutely no fear or tormented thoughts about the judgment. Why? Because we know He loves us, provides His Spirit and righteous covering, and the power for us to cooperate with His every command. Not only does that give us incredible, holy boldness as we submit to Him, it also makes us kinder, gentler people toward others. We recognize somewhat of the depths of God’s love such that we become so thankful that we cannot help but love others.

How does God’s love for me relate to fear? I respect God and His love so much that I am not afraid to walk boldly to the throne of grace where God gives power and help in my time of need. I respect Him, but how could I be afraid of such a loving Father?—L. David Harris (www.DavidWritesaLot.com)