To know the answer to that we need to go back to the previous verses. We know that God abides in us by the love that we show to others. Clear as can be eh? Our love shows where we are with God.
It is not only that... It is not merely a matter of the love in our lives and how we show it, but God has also given us his Spirit. God doesn't leave us hanging you know. First he sent his son to us... to teach us, to love us, to die for us. Then he sent his Spirit to be a constant guidance and support to us. To show and teach us even more the ways of God.
So if we confess that God is alive and real... ah then he resides within us. And if he resides in us, we reside in him and you know what happens next? love is perfected in us... Think about that! God's love is perfected in us.
For some reason that just blows my mind this morning. I've been struggling with the whole concept of love and how one shows it to those around them. That giving of oneself to others.
But God does this so that we might have confidence because not only do we reside in God we also live in this world. And this world is not always so easy to live in. But if God's love is perfected in us...what have we to fear? Love has no need to fear. If we are afraid...then where is our love? Truly... where is it?
God loved us. We love God. We love others. No fear need exist inside those walls.
If we are afraid we aren't really loving are we? God tells us that perfect love casts out fear.. it tosses it away. So if we are afraid...what is that saying about us?
In blunt honesty, if we are afraid we aren't living a life of love.
Oh my, think on that a spell.
If we are afraid to witness.... what does that say of our love?
If we refuse to step up to a position in church to serve... what are we afraid of? That God won't meet our needs or help us in our endeavors? Then what does that say of our love for God?
If we have people in our lives that God has given us to love and we do not... what does that really say about us? Where is our fear?
Is that fear that...
we can't get our work done?
we can't find our "me time"?
we can't do our own thing?
we can't get the house clean?
What stops us from loving those that God has placed within our sphere of living and being?
Where is our love placed?
Where does fear step in?
if we don't love those God has given us... do we truly love God?
Oh... oh my... that I might love God more.
Let me love God more....