Translations – The Presidential Prayer Team

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. – 1 John 4:18

Love can be complicated. Showing love to another is sometimes complex, recognizing love from others may be confusing, expressing desire in love involves risk, and healing the broken heart that stems from lost love is excruciating. Yet, in all its nuance, navigating “love” is one of the most engaging experiences of life.

Outside of a relationship with Jesus Christ, the closest thing to encountering God on Earth is being genuinely loved by others! Even people who do not follow a path of faith will say, “If there is a God… God is Love.” And many agree their greatest fear is to not be loved.

God proclaimed the implications of His name to Moses. Those Hebrew scriptures have proven challenging to translate, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). Steadfast love, goodness, kindness, loving-kindness, faithfulness, and loyal love are all fair interpretations of that passage. Is there any one of those words that does not quiet the fear in your love-longing heart?

God is ultimately beyond language, but the fear of not being loved fades away when put in perspective of the sacrificial gift of Jesus Christ. His life, death, and resurrection translate into confidence in the knowledge that you are loved by God! Pray for those in the United States who long for God’s love but struggle to seek Him. Ask that America’s people will come to know the loyal love of God through His son Jesus Christ.

Today’s Verse: 1 John 4:18

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

All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Recommended for further reading: Zephaniah 3:16-20

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
    let not your hands grow weak.
¹⁷The Lord your God is in your midst,
    a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
    he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
¹⁸I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
    so that you will no longer suffer reproach.
¹⁹Behold, at that time I will deal
    with all your oppressors.
And I will save the lame
    and gather the outcast,
and I will change their shame into praise
    and renown in all the earth.
²⁰At that time I will bring you in,
    at the time when I gather you together;
for I will make you renowned and praised
    among all the peoples of the earth,
when I restore your fortunes
    before your eyes,” says the Lord.