Perfect Love Drives Away Fear
Michele Carter
Last week, Ed and I went to watch our daughter’s school Easter production, “What A Week”. Over the years we have seen many school nativity plays, but this was the first time we’d seen the Easter story performed.
I have to say the children were fantastic and the singing was the best I have ever heard! The play was put together really well… it was very emotional watching as they shouted “crucify him!”, hearing the chant get stronger, watching everyone join in and imagining it happening 2000 years ago. Seeing Jesus holding on to the cross and the angels standing by just watching whilst He stayed there, for you and me. It was this child, cast as Jesus, holding herself up on the cross that drew my attention and thoughts for the longest time. She obviously wasn’t nailed on, or even tied on, but she held on for the whole scene until death itself came.
In the days before Easter this year it hit me again that Jesus didn’t stay on the cross because he had to. It wasn’t the nails that kept him there or the decision of the Romans that put him there, it was because of His love for you and me. Jesus going to the cross or staying on it wasn’t a passive move, but a deliberate act. Jesus chose to endure the cross, to go through the agony of knowing what He was about to go through, and although He asked His Father if there was another way, He then said “not my will but yours”. Perfect love held Him there, perfect love for you and me.
It’s that perfect love that we can know today, that we can live in and the Bible says casts out all fear. Whatever we’re facing, whatever decisions we’re making, as we allow the perfect love of God to permeate our lives we can face the future. He promises to be with us and to help us.
“There is no fear in love but perfect love drives out fear”
Love drives out fear!
When Jesus was on the cross He wasn’t focused on it. We are told in Hebrews 12:2 that “for the joy set before him he endured the cross”. Jesus was thinking of you and me, we are the joy set before Him! If you want to live in the love of God today open yourself up to Him; think on Him and His love instead of your problems, meditate on His Word and how it can set you free; see yourself living in this freedom. You don’t need to do more, run faster, work harder, serve more. Just simply…
Be still, and know that I am God
If perfect love kept Jesus on the cross, His perfect love can help you today!
Ps Michele