cross equals love

Perfect Love

In Daily Devotional by Dave Anderson

Bible Verse: “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 4:18

Scripture Reading: 1 John 4:7-12

Can you remember the first time you fell in love? Most people would answer that they remember it as if it were yesterday. I would dare to say that you remember how he or she was dressed, what their hair looked like, the color of their eyes, and the time of the year. But unfortunately, I would also dare to say that it went away as fast as it came. It happens to most of us—we fall in and out of love very quickly.

We would all like to find perfect love—someone who would accept us just as we are, someone who understands us, someone we do not have to perform for, who knows the good side and the bad side but stays with us no matter what. Do you think that it is possible to find this kind of love here on earth? What would be the picture of perfect love if I asked you to describe the perfect love relationship? A couple walking hand in hand by the ocean? A mother holding her child after giving birth?

Though we do get glimpses of that kind of love from time to time, little snapshots of dreams come true, sound bites of perfection, our question all throughout these days would be: Is there any source of love like that, and does it really last?

The apostle John wrote an amazing letter to the church to say – yes. Such love does exist in the universe, but it is not found in humans, angels, or animals. It comes from God, and He wants to share it with us so that we can share it with others.

As children of God, we received eternal life as a free gift when we believed the gospel of Jesus. This free gift allowed us to enter into a relationship with God. If our desire is not to settle for a nominal relationship with our Heavenly Father but rather to have fellowship with Him, we must learn to love right – to love as He loved us (John 13:34).

— Dr. Dave Anderson, author of Maximum Joy


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About
Dave Anderson
Dr. Anderson is the founder and president of Grace School of Theology, a Houston-based seminary with teaching locations throughout the state of Texas and online. He is the author of Maximum Joy.
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Dave Anderson
Dr. Anderson is the founder and president of Grace School of Theology, a Houston-based seminary with teaching locations throughout the state of Texas and online. He is the author of Maximum Joy.