So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. -1 John 4:16-18 (ESV)

It seems that I cannot escape the need to ponder these verses and the depth of meaning they have for me right now at this time in my life. I have heard these verses over the weekend from my pastor, in a book I am reading and also this morning from a Bible teacher on television. I think there’s a message for me to look at.

God loves me and I love Him. That’s a fact. However, equally true is the fact that there is no way I can ever love Him with the same depth He has for me. As a result, Satan would love for me to believe that I don’t measure up and shouldn’t even try. Of course, in Christ, I am told that I do. Because of what He has done for me, I can measure up. That alone, despite anything that may be going on in life, is cause to be thankful and celebrate this Thanksgiving holiday!

I have been experiencing the fear of what is ahead for my wife and me financially. Such a fear is unwarranted, as it is serves no useful purpose and what *I think* could happen may not. It is the unknown I am fearing, when I should not. The love of God is certainly known to me– and is enough to cast out fear. I need to spend more time in prayer and meditation around this. How often do we not grasp the love He has for us? I could go off on a tangent about the error of legalism in light of His love, but that’s for another time and post.

May God bless you with an attitude of gratitude this Thanksgiving and beyond.