The Light of Love Sets Us Free
Good Morning Friends,
Yesterday the sermon at Moorings was about the transfiguration of Christ. The sermon pointed out that the fear of God may be the beginning of wisdom but that perfect love, in casting out fear, extends the light of Christ beyond mountaintop experiences. As the bird nesting in my garage trapped by a closing garage door, we too need realize that The Light of Love Sets Us Free.
Scripture: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
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.
1 John 4:18 (NRSV)
Now about eight days after these sayings Jesus took with him Peter and John and James, and went up on the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly they saw two men, Moses and Elijah, talking to him. They appeared in glory and were speaking of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Just as they were leaving him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good for us to be here; let us make three dwellings, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah’—not knowing what he said. While he was saying this, a cloud came and overshadowed them; and they were terrified as they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen; listen to him!’ When the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. And they kept silent and in those days told no one any of the things they had seen.
Luke 9:28-36 (NRSV)
Message: People make a mess of their lives because they do not deal with the issue of God in their lives…love in their lives properly. With so many concepts of love in the world, it is important we discover the personal, perfecting and preserving love of Jesus. John’s letters give wonderful and focused directions on how this works… how God and love are joined together in Jesus. He shows us how in the life of Jesus, the man, God and love became linked in an accurate, detailed and permanent, way. John guides us out of our own sin by pointing to Jesus. He reminds us that this unity of God and love becomes available to us when we focus on Jesus Christ. We learn to love God’s way, a way that casts out the wants of the world, the fear of the world. We learn that we can live deeply in Christ’s love and the love of the Father as His children. We learn that we are His frail children burdened with a load beyond our strength, a burden that He is willing to carry for us. We begin to understand that though we live in a world where sin is fatal, the God begotten are the God loved and can become the God protected, the God forgiven. Adam feared when He sinned, so too will we if we do not die to self, live in the Spirit of love and let God carry the load. It is this real love of Jesus, this bold strength and free love of God that He wants to be in us and shared through us. It is not the illusions of the world. It is only the complete, honest, undivided love of Jesus that casts out the fear of the world.
Pray we are ready to take the next step in the light of Christ. Pray that others too will choose and experience the mercy and love of Jesus. Pray we get ready for the joy that comes from knowing that sometime the journey takes us where we did not plan to go. Pray we know that only His perfect love castes out all fear. Pray we awaken to a life of love.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 