ICS Daily Devotions
As He Is So Are We in This World
1 John 4:17-18 (NKJV) Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 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.
The perfect love of God did not wait for us to be perfect before He loved us. Perfect love is Agape love which is an unconditional love. God already sees us as righteous, holy, blameless and accepted in the beloved IN CHRIST while we are still imperfect in this world. We will never be perfect while we are on Earth since we have to deal with the flesh daily but God in His grace, mercy and compassion has chosen to see us as Christ is in this world. As long as we are on Earth, we will have to die to ourselves and carry the cross to deny our fleshly desires which is contrary to the godly values, principles and what the Spirit of God prompts us to do. Sanctification is a lifelong process. We will continuously work on dealing with our flesh, denying ourselves and carrying the cross of abstaining from what our flesh wants us to do by walking in the Spirit.
When we understand God’s perfect love and how He looks at us then all kinds of fear should disappear from us. The scripture above reveals to us, “because as HE IS, so are We in THIS world” that we are viewed as holy, righteous and blameless in this world. It is referring to the present time of our lives. We are hidden in Christ which means God looks at us IN CHRIST. We will never feel the love of God if we continue to use our self-effort to earn God’s acceptance because we are imperfect! We will only be perfect when we go to heaven where the mortal puts on immortality and the corruptible puts on incorruption (1 Corinthians 15:53). God is gracious enough to see us in Christ now so that we will have confidence now and when we meet Him face to face.
Matthew3:17 (NKJV) And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Jesus is the highly favored Son of God and God is well pleased with Him. Because of our position in Christ we are holy and righteous in God’s sight. It is wonderful to know and experience God’s perfect love which casts out all fear and torment, because the Father loves us unconditionally. Fear does not belong to us. The perfect love of God brings peace and joy into our lives.
Sermon Series – Job and I
