DAILY DEVOTION, June 8, 2021

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:18).

I know of people who never watch the news because it is so full of scary items. We are told that global warming (or climate change!) will destroy the earth in a few years. Coastal cities will be flooded, ice caps will melt, and life on earth will be destroyed. Or maybe North Korea or Iran or China, or ? will send nuclear bombs our way. Perhaps Covid 19 will continue to spread, and that will do us in. It seems that the news thrives on fear. Maybe some of their dire predictions contain an element of truth, but I, for one, do not believe we humans can destroy God’s creation.  I do believe this old earth is marked for destruction, but not by the hand of man. Scripture tells us that this earth will one day perish, and God will create a new heaven and earth.

In any event, the closer we are to God, the less fear we have. When fears overwhelm us, we have wandered away from God.  Our faith lies dormant. We need to constantly remind ourselves that God is love and that He loves us.  When love works its way deep into our souls, fear vanishes.

So, when the newscaster says, “Global warming is coming. Be afraid!” We respond, “maybe so, maybe not. In either case, God is love, and He loves me, and I refuse to give in to fear. So there!”

Gracious God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth, thank You for revealing to us that You are a God of love. Yes, you are a God with unlimited power, but it is a power wielded by Your love. Thank You for loving me and driving fear from my heart. In Jesus’ Name, I pray, Amen.