Let’s Talk About Love: The Purpose of Love: Get Rid of Fear
Another purpose or function of love is to get rid of fear! Love provides us with security, stability, and salvation. Salvation is not just “fire insurance,” it is deliverance from everything the enemy (Satan) would bring against you! Even in THIS life. Knowing and understanding God’s kind of love will preserve you, give you refuge in times of trouble, and cause you to not be afraid. This world needs some of that, don’t you agree!?
The 91st Psalm is well known as the Psalm of Protection. It’s a wonderful prayer to be used for yourself, family, friends, and loved ones. Here it is from the Amplified Bible:
“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will remain secure and rest in the shadow of the Almighty [whose power no enemy can withstand]. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust [with great confidence, and on whom I rely]!’ For He will save you from the trap of the fowler, and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you and completely protect you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a wall. You will not be afraid of the terror of night, nor of the arrow that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction (sudden death) that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but danger will not come near you. You will only [be a spectator as you] look on with your eyes and witness the [divine] repayment of the wicked [as you watch safely from the shelter of the Most High]. Because you have made the LORD, [who is] my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will command His angels in regard to you, to protect and defend and guard you in all your ways [of obedience and service]. They will lift you up in their hands, so that you do not [even] strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra; the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot. Because he set his love on me, therefore I will save him; I will set him [securely] on high, because he knows My name [he confidently trusts and relies on Me, knowing I will never abandon him, no, never]. ‘He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and I will let him see my salvation.'”
What a wonderful promise! If we could get this truth down in our hearts, we would never worry or feel insecure again! God’s promises continue for our benefit, stability, and security! Read these verses, all from the NIV, about how we can gain confidence through God’s love:
*Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good, to those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.”
*1 Corinthians 2:9, “As it is written, ‘No eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.'”
*Psalm 23:6, “Surely goodness and mercy hall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
*Psalm 59:16, “But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”
*Romans 8:35, 37, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
*2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”
*1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear.”
There is no place in this world safer than in the arms of our Father God; dwelling, walking, habitually living in His Word!
So another purpose of the fruit of love is to get rid of fear!