Love is one of the greatest quests of humanity.  That's why we never run out of songs to write.  But, have we made love something other than what it is?  Have we made love something that serves us rather than something that serves?  Have we forgotten what love is or, that love is God?

Everything that God does is out of an extreme love for us.  Forgiveness, grace, mercy and yes, even rules.  His love is relentless and bold, kind and personal, holy and right, unswerving and pure.  His love is full; full of life, joy, creativity, energy and adventure.

Let me come at this from a different angle. One of the greatest struggles in my life has been fear.  It has not been intentional and certainly not my quest, but nevertheless it has been there ...a nagging voice always looking to have its way!  Fear opposes love.  It is vocal, demanding, analytical and protective.  Fear never allows love to totally be all it is meant to be for love is too free and does not make sense.  It will never give everything to another because it must hold something back for a rainy day. If that is my axis or plume-line of action, then I will certainly grow more like it over time.  My dreams, talents and relationships will be compromised and I will not be all that I am made to be.  Over time, in essence, I will die.

Jesus said that perfect love casts out fear.  Love is free and does not operate on calculations or keep tabs. Love makes fear mad.  Perfect love is not a thing.  It is pure and free flowing, unconditional and forgiving. Love does not need to be repaid or acclaimed.  It does not need honour for it is honour itself.  Love does not need.  Perfect love is the substance of life and is completely Jesus. 

God is love and His desires for us are out of His perfect love. 
Will you let Love be?

“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Then he asked them, “But who do you say I am?”
Peter replied, “You are the Messiah"
Mark 8:29 (NLT)

I had just listened to a challenging sermon on the fear of God.  If I am to fear God rightly - out of respect, honour and love - then I need to know Him.  Hearsay is not enough.  Something inside of me must engage with who He truly is.

So, I got to thinking ... I've respected & honoured others before; my husband, my granny, Billy Graham, the Queen.  Now, I haven't (obviously) had relationship with all of these, but I have held them all in high regard.  But maybe this is about more, more about living and dieing.  Who would I live for?  Who would I die for?  Or even, who would I allow to live with me and give me life?  Who would I allow to give me advice and guidance, so much so, that if they said so, I would do so.  Hmm, this hits a much deeper chord, doesn't it?

We are now in the territory of the "me" - the territory of rights.  This is where fear dwells, both the healthy and scary kind.  If I do not know who God is (who He says He is and has proven Himself to be) I will never fear Him rightly.  I may panic (wrong fear) when He tries to enter "my spot" or just be indifferent - not being aware of His presence and understanding His intentions.

I must get to know Him and the only sure way is through scripture.  I can look to my past, but I cannot lean on it for there is so much there that I don't understand or, I forget!  I can look inside myself, but I don't trust my emotions.  I can look at others, but so many claim to know the truth that it gets confusing.  I must, with the Holy Spirit, read and study what God has said (Joshua 1:8).  Why not go to the source?  We have it in abundance!

Here's what I have found:  the more I get to know Christ, the greater my pursuit of Him.  He is beyond my figuring out and yet I can know Him intimately ... mind boggling!  Who is God that He should be mindful of me?  Who am I that I should know Him?  (Psalm 8:3-5)

I was reading Genesis 31-33 today and noticed something in Jacob that sounded
way too
familiar to me!!

Take time to read through this story if you haven't done so in a while.

Jacob would often respond to God obediently, but his methods of response were frequently dictated by fear. 

As I was reading along, it struck me... guilt produces fear!  Does that seem right out of the blue?  Think about it.  Years earlier Jacob had run from his brother Esau because, well, Esau wanted to kill him.  It was probably a good thing that he ran; but he ran with the guilt of why his brother wanted his life.  Jacob had deceived him & essentially robbed everything from him.  Jacob's actions didn't produce remorse, they produced fear and fear flees.

Now, in chapter 31, Jacob is faced with another relational issue, this time with Laban.  The difference here is that this circumstance was probably not Jacob's fault.  God tells Jacob to leave and go back to his homeland.  Jacob obeys... but he obeys with fear operating.  Instead of leaving with confidence in the care of God, he fears the worst reaction that Laban might possibly throw and tries to sneak away.  It's funny to me how he thought he could do this without being noticed (all the flocks & herds & wives & kids :).  Anyway, Laban asks Jacob why he did this and Jacob's response was this, "Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.' " (Genesis 31:31)

Fear can sound quite noble.  Fear tries to mimic wisdom.

BUT, there is a difference!  Wisdom and fear cannot operate in peace together.  Both are masters, and both will compete for control.  Wisdom is sound and confident, daring and peaceful all at the same time.  Fear is irrational and anxious and extremely short sited.

Here's the lesson I learned today from Jacob:

1. God honours an obedient heart, even if we do things afraid.  Now I may sound as though I am contradicting myself, but to me this is the struggle that Paul talks about in Romans 7.  I personally have decided that fear will not win in my life.  It is a strong force and must be battled whenever it raises it's ugly thoughts against God's.  (see 1 Samuel 15:22, 2 Corinthians 10:5)
   
2. Guilt produces fear.  If you are carrying guilt for something, take the time today to let it go.  Repent before God and, if possible to whomever you offended and release the situation to God. (1 John 1:9)
   
3. Don't allow your past to control today.  Stop running from your past.  Face it.  Deal with it.  Ask God for the courage to do so and for wisdom.  He'll lead you because He wants to.  (Romans 2:4)
4. Run with Wisdom.
   

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.."  Ephesians 1:17