We all have dealt with fear. For instance, after my last brother, Michael, was killed in 1993, I feared death, and panic gripped me. I overcame this attack after the Holy Spirit instructed me to write a list of scriptures on fear and I quoted them morning, noon and night. This practice drove fear and panic away.
Fear returned years later. Why did it return, I wondered? My answer was 1 John 4:18, which says he that feareth is not made perfect in love. Fear returned because my love walk was imperfect.
Yes, love is the key to living free from fear. When we walk in love, fear cannot win because love conquers fear.
What is love?
1 John 3:16 tells us what love is. John says love is laying one’s life down for another as Christ laid His life down for us. Hence, to walk in love, we must put the well being of others above our well being. This is why John says:
…whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? I John 3:15
In 1 Corinthians 13:13 (Amplified Bible), Paul defines love in more significant details. He says:
- Love endures long
- Love is patient and kind
- Love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy
- Love is not boastful or vainglorious
- Love does not display itself haughtily.
- Love is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride)
- Love is not rude (unmannerly)
- Love does not act unbecomingly.
- Love does not insist on its own rights or its own way
- Love is not self-seeking
- Love is not touchy or fretful or resentful
- Love takes no account of the evil done to it
- Love pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
- Love does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness
- Love rejoices when right and truth prevail.
- Love bears up under anything and everything that comes
- Love is ever ready to believe the best of every person
- Love hopes are fadeless under all circumstances,
- Love endures everything without weakening.
You may be thinking how can I or anyone walk in this high level of love. We can love as Paul describes it above because God has already put His love in our hearts (Romans 5:5). His love is a fruit of our recreated spirit (Galatians 5:22 ).
Walking in love produces confidence toward God
Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it’s impossible to please God. Faith in God is assurance in God. And what is the source of assurance in God? The answer is walking in love. Here is how walking in love causes assurance in God.
Walking in love pleases God because we obey His commandments. Fortunately, God has only two commandments in the New Covenant we must obey: they are believing that Jesus is the Son of God and loving the brethren (1 John 3:23). By obeying these two commandments, we fulfill all the commandments of God.
Now pause and think a minute — if God is pleased with us because we’re obeying all His commandments, we should fear nothing and no one. We can be assured that God will fight all our battles and bring us through anything safely! This is how walking in love produces assurance in God.
Further, John says if we walk in love our hearts will not condemn us (1 John 3:21). This too produces assurance in God.
Love Is The Greatest
The more I follow Christ; it becomes clear why Paul elevates love above faith and hope (1 Corinthians 13:13). A major reason love is above faith and hope is because love produces assurance (faith). Paul confirmed this truism in Galatians 5:6 when he says faith works by love.
God Is Love
No other verses in the Bible demonstrate the highest value God places on love like 1 John 4:7-8. They say this:
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love (1 John 4:7-8)
John here declares that God is love. He didn’t say God has love. He says God is love. When we walk in love, we walk in God.
Conclusion
To guard against fear today, I feed on the Word of God and walk in love consistently. If fear tries to enter, I check my love walk. If I see that my love walk falters, I repent quickly and get back in love. This practice pleases God, assures me in Him and it keeps me free of fear. This method will work for you too. Try it if you struggle with fear.
