Leading Our Hearts To Love
Not enough love in our lives? Do not fear, the answer is near. Love is not necessarily a fleeting emotion or feeling that some would make it out to be. There are plenty of people who live lives full of joy and full of love and passion. The truth is, we can train ourselves to love, and be loved.
Image courtesy of: Robert Hruzek
Scripture:
“Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart.” – 1 Peter 1:20
Observation/Application:
Today’s scripture tells us that the key to loving one another is through the purification of ourselves. We do this by obeying the truth of Jesus Christ which comes from the Word of God. And as we are obedient to the Lord, we learn to have a “sincere love for each other”. As we do one thing, the other thing happens.
As we walk in obedience to the Lord, the unclean is washed away. We become purified from the inside out. And the more we are washed, the cleaner we become until such a time that there is nothing left to wash away. Eventually we are purified clean and only love remains.
As we are washed clean, we come to know the love of God our Father. And knowing His love allows us to know what love truly is. And when we know what love is, we can love more deeply. But it all starts from seeking the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in walking in obedience to Him.
Not enough love in our lives? There is something that we can do about it. We can love others. It is a choice. We can love others through our actions and unselfish acts of kindness. Find something to do for someone without seeking anything in return. Not feeling the love? Do it again. Rinse and repeat.
At first we may not feel like loving one another, but through obedience to the Lord we do it anyway. We love each other through obedience to the Lord, and eventually our hearts will follow. We can lead our hearts to love through our actions, in spite of what we feel like doing at the time. Like training a muscle, our feelings will respond to the exercise.
The more we love others through our actions, the more our hearts are filled with love. And the more our hearts are filled with love, the better our capability to love others and to love more deeply.
When our hearts are washed clean, when no impurities remain, all we have left is love. When all else is gone, only love remains. And love is all we really need.
#Jesus-Is-Always-Near
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word this morning. Thank you for giving me rest. Help me to walk in obedience to you, so that my sins are washed clean, and so that every day I am more and more like you. Guide me to actions that purify me from the inside out, that your love may be revealed inside of me for your eternal glory. Be with my beloved family and friends who need you more than ever. Reveal yourselves to them so that they may draw closer to you. We seek you first. Let your Holy Spirit break through my flesh and shine like a beacon in the night, filling and equipping me for your eternal glory. We surrender our hearts to you, and give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
Today’s full reading: Isaiah 36,37; Psalm 76; 1 Peter 1
Scripture References From Today’s Reflection:
- “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” – 1 Corinthians 13:13
- “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34-35
- “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
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