1John 4:18 – Verse of the Day 3/19/13

John is sometimes referred to as the “beloved disciple” or the “disciple who Jesus loved.” Interestingly, John, perhaps more than any other biblical writer, also frequently calls Christians to experience and share the love of Christ. This verse is situated in the midst of a series of reflections regarding the transformative nature of Christian love. The consistent theme of this passage regards the benefits of love for God and love for others, and in this verse the benefit is that God’s love relieves our fears.

Does awareness of your sin and shortcomings cause you to fear God’s punishment? Do you genuinely believe that God’s love means the forgiveness of sin for all who trust in Him? Spend some time thanking God for the wonderful gift of this forgiveness, asking Him to relieve your fears as you understand His love more deeply.