¹⁸ 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. ¹⁹ We love Him because He first loved us.

1 John 4:18-19 NKJV

I feel like we limit the strength and the power of what love is able to do. The reason why I say that is because we limit love to the intimate connections or to intimate hookups. In other words, we limit love to lust. Lust is incredibly limited in that it comes and goes. Even more, lust, at the end of the day, doesn’t truly care; it is sin as there is no obedience and faith in lust.

Love cares. As John points out, there is strength and power in the fact that true love cares about the other. When we are afraid to move forward, those who love us will encourage us to move forward. When we are wallowing in the pit of despair, those who love us will work to lift us out of that pit. When we are lost and wandering, not sure which way to go, those who love us will guide and direct us.

Do you notice that I’ve just described what the Lord does for us? The Lord leads us, guides us, uplifts us, and keeps us encouraged on this journey. God is love and we say that He is our pillar of power and strength, right? If we move in the same kind of love, guess what that makes us? We are also able to become pillars of strength and power as well! So, let us not limit love by moving out of lust, envy, and jealousy.