I am endeavoring to examine my fears, as I don’t seem to be afraid of much, but I do have a nagging suspicion that I am not living up to my potential. I am arriving at this conclusion through self-examination and while I am grateful for what I have and do my best to share, I think I’ve fallen into the trap of comparison. Setting the comparison bit aside for now I am sure that fear, the self-centered variety, not the survival instinct type, is the obstacle that is interfering.
How is it then that Perfect Love is able to vanquish my fear? and What is it after all that I am afraid of? I am going to dig into this this a bit and in the act of composition and presenting this, perhaps an answer will emerge. I’ll start with perfect.
As an adjective perfect is described as
- Being without flaw or defect
- Satisfying all requirements
- corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept
- Faithfully reproducing the original
- Legally valid
The definition goes on but I get the point as something to aim for but not necessarily achievable. Onward
Perfect as a verb
- to bring to final form
- to make perfect : improve or refine
Love, well now what have we here, if I am to find or practice Perfect Love in order to be liberated from Fear?
Love as a noun is described described as
- strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties
- attraction based on sexual desire : affection and tenderness felt by lovers
- affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests
- an assurance of affection
Okay right I get that and am sure I’ve also sought that and, tried as best as I could to express (l)ove
I like Anthony de Mello’s definition
Clarity of perception and accuracy in response
Now what do I know of Love? Not much when it has come from humans, other than my mom and other family. However I have the experience of God knowing my heart and loving me precisely as I am. That is the way I strive to love others. I am utterly incapable of this without His love transforming my entire being.
Now back to the Perfection of Love alleviating fear. In order for me to be fearful I am dwelling in another realm, the future. Fear is obliterated in His presence. If I am remorseful or plagued with regret I am focused on the past, another realm I visit. I am blemish free in The Father’s view as I abide in The ultimate Act of Love for Creation.
I have a mission, that being, to examine myself honestly, which is tricky because self/ego wants me to die, or so it seems at times. I should also, as I catalogue my findings admit them and dwell in His grace, becoming willing to be transformed and to enlist His aide as I cooperate with Him by shifting my focus from, my pain and frailty, toward others, knowing well that He Loves them.
Perfect Love is The Present
WTFAI 
Much food for thought here. That instruction and closer of Jesus after his radical beatitudes and paradigm shifting exploration of God’s commands as found in Matt. 5, for us humans “to be perfect, even as Our Father is perfect” has always stunned me, as it is beyond what we usually consider rational thought or our understanding about God and humanity. As I have gotten older, I have read enough and lived with God and God’s Word enough to still be mystified and challenged and afraid, but to also ask, “does Jesus mean I am to be perfect in the way I am uniquely but also communally created as a human woman to be “perfect” as myself, but also as part of the whole of others, and this is to be my goal in the same way that God, Who was not created but IS, is perfect as God Is? Does it mean to find the divinity that is ours in Christ, as Jesus did — not to consider ourselves above the weaknesses that the Beatitudes say makes us “blessed”. Well, as I said, thank you for the post and the questions it raises. Shalom, Jane
LikeLiked by 3 people
Thank you Jane- that is why I gravitate towards the verb to perfect- striving towards with my defects in His care
LikeLiked by 1 person
🔷️🙏🏻
LikeLiked by 3 people
Perhaps the most quoted verse – Jn. 3:16, provided the ‘secret’ to me years ago when I read it from a different perspective. This is not to detract from the obvious message ‘that God so loved the world’ (because His ever efficient grace is evidence of that) – to ALL – whether they believe it or not. Never-the-less, focus on the direct ACTION His love produces – ‘He gave’. Love is best appreciated as it is given, unlike the mere receiving of it. The giver of love is the perfected model. When we freely give we say to fear, “what have you over me”? Fear is a liar, it gives only malice and regret – the opposite of love. In Christ we are more than conquerors, we possess all His riches in glory! From the endless heavenly depository we can give perpetually. The supply is never exhausted, rather it multiplies as it is spread.
President Kennedy once challenged Americans, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”. God says, Seek first the Kingdom of God, and ALL these will be added unto you”. The caveat is that we are loved BEFORE we are lovable, we have received to enable us to give. Immediately following the ‘greatest command’ – Love the Lord your God – Jesus says the second greatest is to love your neighbor as yourself. He placed NO limit on who your neighbor is – including even your enemies. To love them ALL as we love our selves, we must find our true identity in Christ – THE ONLY model worth following.
LikeLiked by 4 people
The important thing about is as you say, in the giving. Courage is required to love without reservation. The example of our Lord gives us that courage. If He can love us — creatures so imperfect and unworthy — then surely we can strive to love Him and each other as He loves us.
LikeLiked by 6 people
And to dwell in this Love without ceasing 🙏🏼♥️
LikeLiked by 1 person
jeffw5382
Good post and message about love to discern..
Only wish more of us would understand the difference of the ancient Bible interpretations of love instead of the Hollywood interpretations.in our contemporary times.
Regards and goodwill blogging.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Wonderful thought provoking post. This sentence in particular hit home for me “However I have the experience of God knowing my heart and loving me precisely as I am”…
LikeLiked by 4 people
I totally agree. I believe that fear- especially irrational fear, comes from selfishness and hatred. Thank you so much for this!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Your post reminds me of the fact that it is not fear that turns men into cowards. It is a lack of love.
It reminds me also that it is not the absence of fear that turns men into heros. It is the presence of love.
As Jesus said: “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Profound thought Artaxes
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks. Your Mother is a perfect example for the latter. One could have no greater love than your mother had for that drowning child.
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pity for the picture of the sign of the god Tamuz. (What has this to do with God? It is an abomination in His eyes.)
LikeLiked by 2 people
As you see it. In my experience, the relationship I have is personal,
and would never claim to know what’s right for someone else other than me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
oh dear, there will be weak ones, just keep on keeping on
LikeLiked by 1 person
Absolutely beautiful Jeff❣️🤗
A message of hope that we indeed can lessen, if not mute,
the fears that overtake us when we stray from accepting love from our heavenly creator and look toward comparisons to gauge how we’re doing.
Love the honesty and loving truth of your post❤️🤗
LikeLiked by 4 people
Thank you Teri 🙏🏼💐
LikeLiked by 1 person
I read somewhere that the opposite of love is fear. Where there is love, there is no fear.
LikeLiked by 5 people
I agree and with that Love comes the Faith that all is as it should be
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lots of good thoughts here. I’m reminded how my mother (who can’t swim and was terrified of water) once rescued a child from drowning. Indeed, love overcomes fear. This is normally limited to our personal loved ones though, it takes God’s infinite love to expand that to all mankind. It is a task we could never attain by our efforts (we don’t have that much love in ourselves) only when God lets us feel for an instant His loving compassion for one of His children do we glimpse it.
LikeLiked by 5 people
Precise descriptions and refinements seem to evolve and change as the decades pass.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Some deep reflection! It really is SO easy to fall into comparing ourselves. I need God to regularly remind me not to do so! Father, help us with this;help us live in Your perfect love!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Jennifer I appreciate your stopping by and reading my composition- I value your input highly
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are welcome, Jeff! Truly my pleasure 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“…I am not living up to my potential…”
That’s how I feel almost all the time. Atleast I’m not using all of my potential which I constantly regret. There are a lot of plans, but I don’t really get a grip on them. It seems that everyday chores take so much time that hours a day are not enough for everything.
I think most of us is strugling with this today…
but you just have to live with it…
LikeLiked by 2 people
I’m finding that, this feeling of inadequacy is the humility which enables Grace to have an opening to produce a transformation within
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great perspective and insight ❣️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for sharing your insights. Loved this: “Fear is obliterated in His presence.” Absolutely agree! 🙏
LikeLiked by 2 people
This is a lovely write and lots of questions which I understand. I have to agree with MJ Thompson’s response. I started studying the bible at thirteen. I steered clear of Revelation after reading it once because it frightened me so. However as I got older I had a clearer understanding of all the intense imagery and symbolism. Then I think of how John, was literally boiled him in oil and it didn’t do anything to him. While on the island of Patmos Jesus revealed what the end would look like. I believe that God gave his son Jesus so that we would never have to be flawless again. First, we are born into sin and incapable of not sinning. When we think evil thoughts like lusting after someone it is no different then having sex with that person. I believe this is a wonderful post because it causes people to think about the things you reference and yes, I use to wonder about so many statements in the bible. The bible has to be taken as one document and no one sentence should be used to try to believe or disbelieve anything. However, John 3:16 says it all for me. Thank you for this insightful and thought provoking post. Blessings and love to you and your family.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you Joni
I’m honored that you have taken the time to share your experience
Our relationship’s are so unique and personal, yet the fruits are very similar. Today I am contemplating Sacrifice, what Yeshua endured willingly. It’s truly humbling ❤️
LikeLike