Love Aligned to the Word

When our love is aligned with God’s Word—when we embrace his love for us and love one another unconditionally—we live without fear. We can live in the here and now and stand before him with boldness on the day of judgment.

When all fear is gone, we are in perfect love. Listen to these words sung by David: “Honor and Majesty are before him; strength and gladness are in his place” (1 Chronicles 16:27, NKJV). The root word for “gladness” in the Old Testament means “jumping for joy” and enjoying the fullness of perfect love.

Right now, the world is drowning in fear. Humankind trembles over global warming, terrorism, war, shaky economies, mass murders, political chaos and widespread addiction to drugs, alcohol and porn. How can we make any impact for Christ if we’re tormented with the same spirit of fear the world has? What kind of hope can we offer — indeed, what kind of gospel do we preach — if it doesn’t change us and deliver us from fear?

God brought in the New Covenant to assure his church of his love and full pardon of sin. With joy, he revealed his delight in us so that we could feel his heart of love and live our days without fear. “The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing, with everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10). “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?... Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident” (Psalm 27:1, 3).

It is time for God’s people to put everything in his hands. I urge you to stop trying to think your way out of trouble. Instead, rest in the power of God’s Word. Let the Lord put gladness in you today. Your glad heart will encourage all those who are fearful around you. “The Lord will open to you his good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand” (Deuteronomy 28:12).