There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! 1 John 4:18 (AMPC)
God wants us to pursue a relationship with Him before performance or any kind of “clean-up operation” on our behaviour.
You have to remember that your relationship with God is the most important thing. He wants you to live by His guidelines and principles because they are the best way to live. However, your ability to follow them has nothing to do with His love for you. He loves you just as you are.
You see, God is not focused on your shortcomings. He wants a relationship with you. He loves you and wants you to experience that love. And, as our verse today communicates, when you’re focused on love, there’s no room for fear.
Religion relies on fear and guilt to control people’s behaviour, but it doesn’t work. When you come to God full of fear about what you’ve done, or failed to do, you’re not building your relationship with Him. Instead, you’re focused on your performance or you’re looking for Him to clean up your behaviour. While He has been more than happy to provide you with the grace you need to change, that is not His main concern. He wants relationship to come first.
In fact, putting that relationship first gives you the power to change the things you want to change. You see, faith works by love, not fear. As you begin to realize how much He loves you and empowers you to change, you can start to walk that change out.
Get back to the basics. Your relationship with God is and always will be the main thing. Choose to stay focused on His love today.
Get encouraging devotions from Leon Fontaine in your inbox every morning.
