BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT!

BOLDNESS IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT!

1 John 4:17-20

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 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.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

           Because it is appointed to man once to die and then face judgment (Hebrews 9:27), we want to approach that judgment desk with confidence and not dread. John, the beloved apostle, says love is the key. A few things stand out in our portion above.

           First, our love relationship with the Judge should drive out dread. We are “as he is” in the world. We conduct ourselves as Jesus would. That seems to be a growth process and not automatic. We study – learn – practice and then study even more before we become mature. John calls it being “made perfect in love.”

Some of us may be slow learners and require remedial studies.

           Second, God facilitates our growth by first loving us. We learn by observing His love. How He loves, when He loves, and the nature of His love are all observable in our relationship with Him. How does He treat us when we disappoint Him or when we please Him? The closer we watch Him and the more we copy Him the more mature we become.

           Finally, love and maturity are developed on the playing field of relationships. If we claim to love God but hate our brother then our claim is false.

Dear Lord, let me watch you so closely as to catch not only your actions but your motives as well. Let me pattern my life after your character and nature. Let my relationship with others demonstrate my love for you. AMEN