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Love and Fear
March 26, 2011

In the modern age, we think of love and hate as opposites. The is because the term love is loosely used. For instance, a person might love the French fries from a particular restaurant. A friend may love how the color blue looks on you. These should all be examples of what a person likes or prefers. Yet in our modern usage, the term love is used to describe a preference. The same term is used to explain the tender feelings family has for each other, and the sexual attraction that newlyweds and married couples have. Because there is the idea that love and hate are opposites, let's begin by examining some of what God hates.

Proverbs 6:16-19
These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

If love and hate were opposites, then doing the opposites of the actions from Proverbs 6 would be love. It is hard to define the opposite of these actions, unless we limit the discussion to not doing these. Jesus taught that the Ten Commandments could be summarized by the ideas of loving God and loving mankind.

Matthew 22:36-40
Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 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. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Because we live in a world where many believe the law of God is done away, it should come as no surprise that confusion exists regarding the concept of love. When we obey God, we show love not only to God, we show love to fellow man. Love and hate are not the best opposites to consider. Love and fear are better opposites to consider. We do not love because we fear. When we fear, we cannot love. Whatever it is we fear, limits our ability to love.

I John 4:18-21
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. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

Perfect love casts out fear. Hatred that we have, even if to a brother, stems from fear. As we examine ourselves, we need to consider what it is we fear. As we are able to cast fear out of our life, we are able to grow in love, towards perfection.

All verses are from the King James Version.
This site provided by Tom Laign. To all who may believe differently, I also extend peace and love.
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