Practicing Resurrection - Do Not Fear

I John 4. 7 - 21

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love.

Today's reading from I John makes it very clear that fear and love are not compatible, continuing the point of the Gospel reading that if we abide in God and are rooted in Christ there is nothing we cannot do including love despite anger and brokenness. Fear promulgates vines of bitterness not rooted in Christ. There is in perfect love a protection against fear and regardless of the circumstances, God eradicates the pain of fear and bitterness. Love has been perfected in us, and attaching to the vine of Jesus frees us to bloom and produce the fruit of the Spirit. That fruit is evidence of the Spirit moving through us.

Later in this passage from 1 John, the author says, "for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also." The good news is that love casts out the fear of apologizing, forgiving, confessing, and that mighty vine holds us firmly until we are ready to grow forward.

I pray that we might cast out whatever fear disables our rootedness in the vine of Love, freeing us to grow and blossom into the Fruit God calls us to be.