There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 1Jn 4:18
What a perfect day to start this topic on the eve of Mother's day here in America. When I picture Mary, the mother of Jesus, standing beneath the Cross where her precious Son hung in agony to pay the price for the sin of mankind, I cannot but be reminded of the pain that comes with such great love. Her yielding to the will of God at the announcement of her holy calling saying, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. (Luke 1:38) brings to mind the moment, then yet to come, when the great pain of that commitment would wrench her heart as she stood before her dying Son. Her innocent Son called to be the sacrificial Lamb of God and pay the price for all men.
Isaiah the Prophet wrote, Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:4-5 He who had Himself created all things (John 1:3 ; Colossians 1:16) was now being crucified and rejected by those whom He came to save.
The Lamb [of God] slain from the foundation of the world. (Rev. 13:8) By God's great love for us He gave His own Son to die to reconcile the world unto Himself. (2 Cor. 5:19) In light of these things I ask this: "How much does God love you? As much as He loves His Son because that was the price he paid for your redemption.
So receive this perfect love that God has given for you and it will cast fear out of your life and give you Peace with God. (Romans 5:1) To view God through His love is what He intended for all of us. Not to see him through the window of anger, hate and revenge. God is love. That love is expressed in the greatest act of sacrifice: the death of His Son on your behalf. But you must come to Him or you will not know this love that has been poured out for you. (John 14:6) Only through Christ can the atonement for sin be made.
It is not enough just to ask God to forgive you and to stop doing the act for which you seek forgiveness. You must accept His Atonement, Jesus Christ, as the offering to be made. We are made acceptable to God through Christ and there is no other way. (Ephesians 1:6) Just as he covered the sins of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by shedding of blood, so has He done this for all of us who will come, by the shedding of the Holy Blood of His Son Jesus Christ.
