“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” (1st John 4:18)
Can’t do it or won’t do it.
Cannot do it infers a physical or mental handicap, a limitation of the flesh that we have little to no control over whatsoever. A person who wears corrective lenses cannot focus properly at certain distances, it is physically impossible for them to do so, it cannot be done without their glasses.
A person who will not do something because of a choice they have made can do a thing, but they won’t.
That perfect love that casts out all fear is akin to John 14:15. “If ye love me, keep my commandments.” It is not something we cannot do, it is either love we choose to offer or refuse, we will either do so or not.
I have read of accounts of people who have chosen to forgive those that killed their family members, they found out that it was not something they could not do, but chose not to do. The action was not excused, the consequences of what those people did was not hindered, but the way those lives were changed forever was changed even greater, and for the glory of God, when they chose to forgive.
I have heard numerous excuses over the decades of why people who profess to serve the Lord will not speak of Him to others, and nearly every time that word “can’t” shows up in the conversation. It’s not that they cannot my friends, it’s that they won’t, and so one can only apply the inverse of the opening verse of this letter to them, they do not know His perfect love or that fear would not reside within them.
They do not love Him, or they would obey Him.
“For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels.” (Luke 9:26)
Embarrassment is fear, not obeying because of the possible repercussions to yourself from others is fear.
Many of these believe a near perfect church attendance will offset that blatant disregard to openly profess Jesus Christ as Lord, that being a good steward of what they possess, reading His Word on a regular basis and giving of their finances will cause the Lord of Glory to make His face shine upon them, thereby in their own minds excusing that fear to speak of Him to those they meet.
Others believe an occasional Scripture verse spoken at the right time, relative to the conversation proves their love for Him, but never loving those they meet enough to search their hearts and lead them to Him whom they profess to love. They hide His words in their heart and that is where it stays.
Embarrassment is fear, it is placing our own self worth above the desires of the Almighty, and those we speak of here do not know His love.
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1st John 4:16)
You will come across more and more people such as this as the days grow darker, those who will let fear rule their lives, who will have a form of godliness within the confines of the church building but deny Him in public. Perhaps not openly denying Him, but is there a difference between doing that and not confessing Him openly in public? Not to God there isn’t.
It’s not that they can’t, though that is the excuse they have taught themselves to believe, it’s that they won’t, and they will not solely for selfish, self-centered reasons. Even Elijah knew this fear.
“Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by to morrow about this time.” (1st Kings 19:2)
We learn through fear my friends only when we face it.
“Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.” (Heb. 12:4)
Not one of us should ever say we can’t.
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Phil. 4:13)
