Joy and Security | Part Three
Key Thought | Confidence before God grows as we live daily in His love and presence.
Key Scripture | “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.” —1 John 4:16–19 (NLT)
Let’s continue our journey today. If you need to catch up, you can look back at the first two days of this series.
“So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”
I love how John begins to get right to the point. He unpacks the perfect love of Jesus and then makes it clear that God wants us to abide in that love so that we are not afraid of judgment.
I can’t tell you how many people live with a deep fear of death, wondering what it will be like when they meet Jesus face to face. God gets no joy out of His children living with anxiety or dread every time a preacher talks about death or eternity. Jesus did not die on the cross for us to spend our lives wondering where we stand with Him.
The Father sent the Holy Spirit so that we could live in constant communion with God—steadfast, secure, and confident in our place with Him.
Recently, I was introduced to a phrase that has really ministered to me. At first, I didn’t like it, but over time I’ve come to appreciate it:
Earned authority.
Salvation is a free gift. But confidence in that salvation is earned through relationship. Stay with me for a moment. I promise I’m not teaching a works-based theology.
Salvation is received by faith alone, but confidence in that salvation grows through time spent with Him and the way we live our lives. It’s the paradox of grace and personal responsibility. I’m not earning anything from Jesus. I’m earning assurance within my own heart. I come to know, not just in belief but in lived experience, that He is faithful.
Paul touches on this in Romans when he speaks of Abraham. He uses the phrase “fully convinced.” Despite Abraham’s ups and downs, delays, and unmet expectations in the timing of God’s promises, he remained fully convinced that God was present and at work.
That is confidence.
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”
To live life without fear is a powerful thought, fully secure and fully confident. The way to get there is simple, but not easy. The simplicity is this: it is all discovered in His love. The difficulty is choosing, again and again, to make time to experience that love.
The truth is, His love changes us. This is not self-management, but a realized dependency on Him. He is my source. He is my strength. He is love, and fear cannot stand in His presence, even the fear that hides deep within me.
Prayer | Father, thank You for inviting me into confidence rather than fear. Teach me to abide in Your love daily and to trust You fully. Where fear still lives in my heart, let Your perfect love drive it out. Help me grow secure in who I am in You. Amen.
Reflection
Key Scripture | “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. We love each other because he loved us first.” —1 John 4:16–19 (NLT)
Let’s continue our journey today. If you need to catch up, you can look back at the first two days of this series.
“So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.”
I love how John begins to get right to the point. He unpacks the perfect love of Jesus and then makes it clear that God wants us to abide in that love so that we are not afraid of judgment.
I can’t tell you how many people live with a deep fear of death, wondering what it will be like when they meet Jesus face to face. God gets no joy out of His children living with anxiety or dread every time a preacher talks about death or eternity. Jesus did not die on the cross for us to spend our lives wondering where we stand with Him.
The Father sent the Holy Spirit so that we could live in constant communion with God—steadfast, secure, and confident in our place with Him.
Recently, I was introduced to a phrase that has really ministered to me. At first, I didn’t like it, but over time I’ve come to appreciate it:
Earned authority.
Salvation is a free gift. But confidence in that salvation is earned through relationship. Stay with me for a moment. I promise I’m not teaching a works-based theology.
Salvation is received by faith alone, but confidence in that salvation grows through time spent with Him and the way we live our lives. It’s the paradox of grace and personal responsibility. I’m not earning anything from Jesus. I’m earning assurance within my own heart. I come to know, not just in belief but in lived experience, that He is faithful.
Paul touches on this in Romans when he speaks of Abraham. He uses the phrase “fully convinced.” Despite Abraham’s ups and downs, delays, and unmet expectations in the timing of God’s promises, he remained fully convinced that God was present and at work.
That is confidence.
“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.”
To live life without fear is a powerful thought, fully secure and fully confident. The way to get there is simple, but not easy. The simplicity is this: it is all discovered in His love. The difficulty is choosing, again and again, to make time to experience that love.
The truth is, His love changes us. This is not self-management, but a realized dependency on Him. He is my source. He is my strength. He is love, and fear cannot stand in His presence, even the fear that hides deep within me.
Prayer | Father, thank You for inviting me into confidence rather than fear. Teach me to abide in Your love daily and to trust You fully. Where fear still lives in my heart, let Your perfect love drive it out. Help me grow secure in who I am in You. Amen.
Reflection
- Where do I still feel fear when I think about standing before God?
- How might deeper time spent with Him strengthen my confidence?
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