Perfect Love

Larry Doyle Crenshaw

There is a perfect antidote to any fear that may hold us prisoner. It is a form of medicine that comes from the Great Physician, Himself.  It is called “Perfect Love.”  1 John 4:18 says that perfect love casteth out fear….”  The Bible does not elaborate other than to say that “fear hath torment.” 

Thus, our meditational verse says that “Fear can be a damning emotion” in that it can hold us prisoner by its persistent, vexing persuasions.  Our experience tells us that there are many kinds of fear.  There is the fear that comes from being hurt or even the threat of being harmed or dying.  There is the fear that is experienced when facing the unknown. 

There is another kind of fear that is referenced in the Bible.  This Biblical fear is akin to reverence, awe, and respect.  Such Biblical fear is what we usually hear in the scriptures when it says we are to “fear God.”  Although there are also instances where, because of our unworthy, errant behavior we should fear the consequences that God has decreed for such behavior. 

To fear the future is to be held captive by the past.  To fear relationships is to be sentenced to isolation. To fear new things is to be held prisoner by only the familiar. To fear God without being motivated to align our behavior with His commandments is to distance ourselves from Him and seek solace in worldly things. 

Hence, the commandment recorded in Matthew 22:37-40, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” Such love is the beginning and the basis for a perfect love.  When our love and devotion for God crowds out and pushes out all other competing emotions, we begin to experience perfect love.

 Perfect Love

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.

New Testament  1 John 4:18

16  Wo be unto them that shall pervert the ways of the Lord after this manner, for they shall perish except they repent. Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear.

Book of Mormon   Moroni 8:16

Fear can be a damning emotion

Preventing us from moving ahead

Inhibiting our Godly devotion

Fearing not God, but man instead

Thus we are perverted, then diverted

And we perish except we repent

Forsake our sins and be converted

Fully, completely, with real intent

May our fears be not of man

 Let us go forth with boldness

And with authority take a stand

While embracing love’s fullness

For perfect love castes out all fear

Then we are cleansed and purified

And our mortal path is made clear

Toward Christ, clean and sanctified.

Larry Doyle Crenshaw