An Inexhaustible Reservoir
You have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren.
1 Peter 1:22
As Christians we have a great responsibility to love others, but how do we fulfill it? By understanding our resource.
Love is available to us, and it’s our fault if we don’t tap the necessary resource. We are to submit to the Spirit and learn how to love. We must purify our hearts by confessing our sin and realize the urgency of attracting others to Christ through our love. We are to make a conscious choice to love others, fellowship with other believers, and concentrate on others rather than ourselves. And we must consider the effect of loving others. Love given is inevitably returned.
When God saved you, He made you a new creation with the capacity to fulfill the debt of love. The reservoir of love is inexhaustible. You have the privilege of representing God in the world by loving others as He loved them and receiving love in return.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 290). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Holy living requires purification. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word" (Ps 119:9). It is obedience to God’s Word which refines character and purifies the soul. A purified life allows one to have a caring relationship with God’s other children, to love them wholly and sincerely. True, sacrificial love can come only from a changed heart, from one whose motives are pure, and who seeks to give more than he takes. "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). All evil thoughts and feelings must be removed from your heart before you can be capable of loving others deeply and wholeheartedly.
Applications: Sincere love involves selfless sacrifice. That kind of love can only come from a pure and humble heart. By sacrificing his life, Christ demonstrated for us the ultimate self-sacrificial love. Follow Christ's example and give of yourself sacrificially. Purify your heart by obeying God's word. "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1:21). Make a conscious effort to sincerely love other believers; to serve them, to fellowship with them, and to put their needs before your own.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith so that I can love biblically. Pray for purification of my soul by careful study of scripture and obedience to God's Word. Pray that I would make an effort to show love to members of the family of believers.
Listen to this entry
1 Peter 1:22
As Christians we have a great responsibility to love others, but how do we fulfill it? By understanding our resource.
Love is available to us, and it’s our fault if we don’t tap the necessary resource. We are to submit to the Spirit and learn how to love. We must purify our hearts by confessing our sin and realize the urgency of attracting others to Christ through our love. We are to make a conscious choice to love others, fellowship with other believers, and concentrate on others rather than ourselves. And we must consider the effect of loving others. Love given is inevitably returned.
When God saved you, He made you a new creation with the capacity to fulfill the debt of love. The reservoir of love is inexhaustible. You have the privilege of representing God in the world by loving others as He loved them and receiving love in return.
MacArthur, J. (2001). Truth for today : A daily touch of God's grace (Page 290). Nashville, Tenn.: J. Countryman.
Lessons Learned: Holy living requires purification. "How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to Your Word" (Ps 119:9). It is obedience to God’s Word which refines character and purifies the soul. A purified life allows one to have a caring relationship with God’s other children, to love them wholly and sincerely. True, sacrificial love can come only from a changed heart, from one whose motives are pure, and who seeks to give more than he takes. "The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim 1:5). All evil thoughts and feelings must be removed from your heart before you can be capable of loving others deeply and wholeheartedly.
Applications: Sincere love involves selfless sacrifice. That kind of love can only come from a pure and humble heart. By sacrificing his life, Christ demonstrated for us the ultimate self-sacrificial love. Follow Christ's example and give of yourself sacrificially. Purify your heart by obeying God's word. "Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you" (James 1:21). Make a conscious effort to sincerely love other believers; to serve them, to fellowship with them, and to put their needs before your own.
Prayer Subjects: Pray for a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith so that I can love biblically. Pray for purification of my soul by careful study of scripture and obedience to God's Word. Pray that I would make an effort to show love to members of the family of believers.
Listen to this entry
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