While the world contemplates its fears, arranges itself around and in and under its fears, long ago the word was spoken: Perfect love casts out fear. Love is an all-consuming firethat does dispel all that fears. For fear is based on the fear to be, the fear of existence, the fear of taking a single step in life, and the distorted preference not to be rather than face the challenge of living itself.
Consider, then, that only the love of Christ can beget the courage to challenge all that is not-love. When you hold your beloved child in your arms, the gift of God to you, your love is so great that you are also ready to address that which attacks the child-whether as disease or a villain or an accident or anything that would limit the development of that child. You have seen some parents, however, who have not contained this love and therefore have not had the pure regard for their children. They have not loved enough to be willing to face that which is directed against that child. And therefore, the children go unprotected, they suffer loss and serious setbacks in life.
Caring enough, therefore, caring ultimately as the perfect love of Christ, must become the sign and the mark of true leadership. The leaders of nations who love the Christ in their people become the true shepherds who lay down their life for their people-laying it down not in death but in the living sacrifice of service, of penetration and probing and going after that which threatens the community, the national security, and the internalization of the Word by every citizen.
While the world ponders its fears, arranges itself around and in and among its fears, long ago the word was spoken: perfect love drives out fear. Love is an all-consuming fire that drives out all those fears. For fear is based on the fear of being, the fear of existence, the fear of taking a single step in life and the twisted preference not to be rather than to take up the challenge of living for oneself.
Consider then that only the love of Christ can engender the courage to challenge all that is non-love. When you hold your beloved child in your arms, God's gift to you, your love is so great that you are also willing to take on that which attacks the child - whether as a disease or a bad thing, or an accident or something that limits that child's development. However, you have seen some parents who have not embodied this love and therefore have not had the pure respect for their children. They have not loved enough to be willing to face what is directed against that child. And therefore the children are unprotected, suffer loss and serious setbacks in life.
Sufficient giving to, ultimately as the perfect love of Christ, must therefore become the sign and hallmark of true leadership. The leaders of nations who love the Christ in their people become the true shepherds who give their lives for their people - not sacrificing their lives in death, but in the living sacrifice of service, of penetrating and investigating and going after that which threatens the community, national security and the internalization of the Word by every citizen.
Pearls Of Wisdom Vol. 27 No. 3 Beloved Paul the Venetian; The Art of Love
Pearl of Wisdom Vol. 27 No. 3 Beloved Paul the Venetian; The Art of Love
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