Daily Devotion for Monday 7th October 2024

I John 4: 16b – 21

God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world.  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. We love because he first loved us. Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Reflection

I grew up being afraid of the Soviet Union’s nuclear arsenal.  As I got older I became afraid too of the arsenal held by the West.  Now I’m tempted to remember the good old days when I knew who to be afraid of!  

There’s much to fear in our contemporary world; 
 

• social upheaval following deindustrialization and a move into new areas of work which are less secure, 
• the subsequent changes from pensions guaranteed by one’s employer to those where the employee takes the risk,  
• the dream of being able to own one’s own home seems a myth to many younger people 
• the lack of investment in our public infrastructure means we’re susceptible when we’re told to blame those who use it more.  

Rapid social change has led to some feeling insecure whilst, at the same time, the institutions we used to trust are now found wanting.  As a (white) child I was told always to trust the police; black children are often told how to behave with the police in ways which indicate a profound, and understandable, lack of trust. We can be fearful when we don’t feel in control of our lives or destinies.

Here’s a spoiler alert: as Christians we decided that God is in charge of our lives and destinies.  We took the fateful decision, when we came to faith, to cede control to God, to recognise God’s sovereignty which overshadows our own.  Methodists recognise this every year in their Covenant service “I am no longer my own but yours.”  

The writer of today’s passage understood this all too well.  Working in a hostile culture where death was a real danger for Christians fear could be all-consuming.  Instead the writer reminds us that God’s love drives out all fear.  As we are tempted to be fearful of the world around us and its changes, it’s good to be reminded of our decision to bow to God’s sovereignty and accept that perfect love which calms our fears.

Prayer

Help us when we are afraid, O God,
to remember Your love.
Help us when we try to take control of our lives, O God,
that we’ve given that control to You.
Help us to trust in Your love,
which drives out all fear.
Amen.