“There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear…”
1 John 4:18 ESV
Did Moses’s mother Jochebed tremble with fear as she placed her tiny baby in a basket and set him afloat? Most of us would have to be desperate to take such an action with a precious, innocent child.
Perhaps the Lord spoke to Jochebed’s heart and assured her of His plan. Perhaps an angel spoke to her and told her to “fear not,” as angels so often did in scripture. Perhaps she knew that Moses was safe in God’s perfect love, even though she did not see the full picture yet.
Did Jesus’s mother Mary tremble with fear as she birthed her precious baby in such haphazard and uncomfortable circumstances? Maybe she was afraid as she delivered him into a world that would largely reject and even one day kill him.
Yet God spoke to her through the angel Gabriel and comforted her, telling her to fear not (Luke 2:30). She and her betrothed were assured that it was all in God’s plan and in His perfect love, even though they could not see the full picture yet.
Do you hold fear in your heart as Christmas draws near and a New Year rushes in? Maybe finances and family circumstances are not what you wish they would be, perhaps you feel overwhelmed with obligations, or maybe you just wish life would slow down… maybe just a little bit.
Maybe you feel guilty because the most wonderful time of the year is not so wonderful to you.
Beloved brothers and sisters, lean into the arms of the Almighty who has a perfect plan and perfect love to give to you! Like Jochebed, like Mary, and like Joseph, you can not see the full picture yet, but you can know with confidence that God loves you every bit as much as He loved them.
When John wrote about perfect love in the Bible, he used the word teleioo, which does not refer to flawless perfection, but rather to something that is completed, finished and accomplished Truly, we do not see the full picture, but by God’s grace and His love, His plans for us are already accomplished, already perfected, and we can rest in them without fear.
As Christmas nears, dear friends, you are on the minds and hearts of all of us at Christ Revealed. We pray that you will rest in God’s love and celebrate the coming of our precious Savior in peace and happiness.
May you break bread with family and friends, take time for worship and prayer, and feel the wonder in your heart that a loving God would send His precious, innocent Son to stand in our place of judgment so that we can live in His perfect love.