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1 John 4:18 - When Love Is Your Motivation, There Is No Fear.

1 John 4:18 (ESV) There is no fear in love, 
but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to 
do with punishment, and whoever fears has not 
been perfected in love. 

1 John 4:18 (NCV) Where Gods love is, 
there is no fear, because Gods perfect love 
drives out fear. It is punishment that makes a 
person fear, so love is not made perfect in the 
person who fears.  

INTRODUCTION

If we ever are afraid of the future, 
eternity, or God's judgment, we can remind ourselves 
of God's love. We know that he loves us 
perfectly (Romans 8:38, 39). We can resolve our fears 
first by focusing on his immeasurable love for us, 
and then by allowing him to love others through 
us. His love will quiet your fears and give you 
confidence. [Life Application SB] 

COMMENTARY PEARL

   A lot of people think the opposite of 
fear is faith. Its not! The opposite of fear 
is love. 
   Love moves against fear. When love comes 
in the front door of your heart, fear goes out 
the back door. You can't be afraid and loving at 
the same time - not with real love. When you 
have real love - Gods love - then you don't 
have to fear. 
   People dont run into a burning 
building to rescue children because of faith. They do 
it because of love. Parents will put their 
lives at risk to protect their families because 
they love their children. 
   If love is the motivation of everything 
you do, then fear is going to disappear. 
   Where God's love is, there is no fear, 
because Gods perfect love drives out fear (1 
John 4:18 NCV). 
   Maybe something you have to do is making 
you nervous. When you start feeling fear rise up 
in you, you need to pause at that moment. Then 
focus on how much God loves you. You may need to 
remind yourself out loud: God, you really love 
me! You're on my side. You want me to succeed in 
this. I'm going to do it in your strength and with 
your love. 
   God doesn't want you to fail. He wants 
you to succeed at what you're doing and fulfill 
your purpose. When you focus on his love, you 
wont be afraid. Perfect love casts out all fear! 
   When I speak in front of thousands of 
people every weekend, I'm not afraid. Why? Because 
I do two things: I focus on Gods love for 
me, and then I focus on my love for my church 
family. They are not an audience to be feared. They 
are a family to be loved. My love for them and 
for Jesus overcomes any fear I might have when I 
preach. 
   When you're fearful, you're focusing 
totally on yourself. That's not love! When you're 
loving, you're focused not on yourself but on what 
other people need. 
   The more loving you are, the less fearful 
you are. So, if you make love your motivation 
for what you do, you're not going to be afraid 
to do it. 
   Make love your motivation, and move 
against your fear. [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: 
https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] 

COMMENTARY

   Love is the basis of godliness. Whatever 
the profession, no man has pure love to God 
unless he has unselfish love for his brother. But 
we can never come into possession of this 
spirit by trying to love others. What is needed is 
the love of Christ in the heart. When self is 
merged in Christ, love springs forth spontaneously. 
The completeness of Christian character is 
attained when the impulse to help and bless others 
springs constantly from within--when the sunshine of 
heaven fills the heart and is revealed in the 
countenance.  
   It is not possible for the heart in which 
Christ abides to be destitute of love. If we love 
God because He first loved us, we shall love all 
for whom Christ died. We cannot come in touch 
with divinity without coming in touch with 
humanity; for in Him who sits upon the throne of the 
universe, divinity and humanity are combined. 
Connected with Christ, we are connected with our 
fellow men by the golden links of the chain of 
love. Then the pity and compassion of Christ will 
be manifest in our life. We shall not wait to 
have the needy and unfortunate brought to us. We 
shall not need to be entreated to feel for the 
woes of others. It will be as natural for us to 
minister to the needy and suffering as it was for 
Christ to go about doing good.  {COL 384}  

LINK FOR FURTHER STUDY 

1 John 4:18 - Love and Fear Do Not Mix!

https://www.abible.com/devotions/2022/20220718-0848.html 

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2020/20201208-1106.html 

John 3:16 - LOVE SUPREME!

http://www.abible.com/devotions/2021/20211206-0816.html 

LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT

https://abible.com/links/