Report cards! The sound of those two words still fills me with dread. Knowing that when my Dad saw those grades there would be big trouble! The days of skipping classes and not doing my homework were recorded on a page that my Father held in his hand. My sin had found me out! For days I would be sick with fear, dreading the punishment I knew would follow. The wooden spoon was not just for stirring soup in our house!
1 John 4:18 says this: “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” Jesus’ perfect love drives out fear, the nightmare of punishment, the thoughts that take root in your head, their ugly tentacles wrapping themselves around your mind. “God is going to punish me for this, the Father is going to discipline me for that,” and the fear of retribution rises and tastes bitter on your tongue.
“Perfect love drives out fear!” The one who paid it all, loves you so completely that He has already taken your punishment. Take heart, rest in His perfect love for you. God is not a god sitting angrily on His throne waiting to shell out retribution the moment you put a foot out of line. In fact, He already knows you will fall, you will sin, and you will stumble. But, in His great mercy, in His great love, He sent Jesus to pay the price, to take that sin to the cross, for you.
When our wonderful, Abba Father gets your Report Card, all He sees are A-pluses, well done, and great work! Washed by the blood of a Savior, all the bad marks redeemed by the perfect love of our Jesus. We need not live in fear. The love of Jesus cleanses, purifies, makes us holy, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish. He puts a fine robe upon your back and a ring on your finger. He is the lifter of your head, He is the one who gives your confidence, boldness to stand before your Father. Made perfect in His love.
Claire's Prayer 