By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

Squash That Fear!

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
1 John 4:18a English Standard Version

My friend Mick does not like squash.  Here my wife Margaret is offering him a beautiful zucchini.  As you can see, Mick is not reacting favorably.  Mick fears squash!

What are you afraid of?  Public speaking, darkness, snakes, spiders, death?  Or perhaps you are afraid of loneliness, rejection, abandonment?  Whatever earthly fears you might have, there is one fear that is worse than any of these, the fear of the day of judgment, of being a condemned sinner destined for eternal punishment.

Are you afraid of God’s judgment, of His wrath and punishment for your sin?  Hear this and hear it well; perfect love cast out fear, including the fear of judgment.  And how do we experience perfect love?  We experience perfect love not from another human being, but from God.  God sent His perfect love in the Person of Jesus, the Son of God who loved us and gave Himself for us.  Because God loved us in Jesus you and I don’t have to fear the wrath of God, nor any other fear in this world.  Because Jesus died for you, you can have security and peace, and rest in His love.

We are assured of God’s love for us, a love that does not come from inside of you or me, but comes from God.  “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  (1 John 4:10)   You no longer need to live in fear, for love comes from God, from the Sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, who loved us and gave Himself for us.  Praise God for His perfect love!

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church Colorado Springs, Colorado