There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.  (1Jo 4:18a NIV)

There are more than one kind of fear. Here St. John doesn’t write about the fear we have here on earth and during our temporal lives, but rather about that fear that is going to befall the godless in the final judgment. In this temporal life people don’t normally fear God. If somebody is afraid then it’s rather due to psychotic influence or – even if this is rather seldom – by the working and wholesome influence of the Holy Spirit. Whoever is healthy and rather ok, but still fears God, has all reason to thank and praise God for his presence and positive persuasion in this regard. If the holy singer admits: “My flesh trembles in fear of you!” (Psa 119:120 NIV), then not too many will have shared this experience. Yet everywhere the fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom. Therefore our Catechism also starts off the explanation of each commandment with the words: “We should fear and love God …”. In the holy Bible we find passages like: “Fear the Lord, you his saints…” (Psa 34:9 NIV). Accordingly there are two types of fear – one, that is compatible with love and another that isn’t. The second is the one, which has to do with punishment and follows from a conscience that is not reconciled with God, but is turned away from him and rejects him and his gracious forgiveness in Jesus Christ.

Almighty and eternal God! You teach us with your holy word. You show us your will and ways in your holy law, demonstrating what we should do and what not in thought, word and deed. Mentor us in your wholesome ways from our youth on and grant that we fear and love you above all things – and trust you alone. Help us to continually strive for a pure heart o God. Keep us from godless temptations and doings. Preserve us as your children and friends and make us inheritors of your eternal kingdom o God. Amen

When in the hour of utmost need We know not where to look for aid, When days and nights of anxious thought Nor help nor counsel yet have brought.

Then this our comfort is alone, That we may meet before Thy throne, And cry, O faithful God, to Thee For rescue from our misery.

To Thee may raise our hearts and eyes, Repenting sore with bitter sighs, And seek Thy pardon for our sin And respite from our griefs within.

For Thou hast promised graciously To hear all those who cry to Thee Thro’ Him whose name alone is great, Our Savior and our advocate.

And thus we come, O God, today And all our woes before Thee lay; For sorely tried, cast down, we stand, Perplexed by fears on every hand.

Ah! hide not for our sins Thy face, Absolve us thro’ Thy boundless grace, Be with us in our anguish still, Free us at last from every ill.

That so with all our hearts we may Once more our glad thanksgivings pay, And walk obedient to Thy Word, And now and ever praise the Lord. (Paul Eber 1511-69 tr Catherine Winkworth 1827-78)

This is a rather free translation of Wilhelm Löhe’s devotion for Wednesday after the first Sunday after the high holiday and festival of the Holy Trinity. It is found on Pg. 225 in Lob sei Dir ewig, o Jesu!   (Eternal Praise to you o Jesus!) edited by A. Schuster and published in the Freimund Verlag, Neuendettelsau 1949.