Devotions: Purified by the Word

 

Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.

1 Peter 1:22-23 New American Standard Bible (NASB)

 

There is a progression here which is important to note. It begins with obedience to the truth. When we read the Word and then do what the Word says, we are aligning ourselves with God and His truth. Doing so over the course of time and through the Spirit changes us, making us more like God. It purifies our souls. That purification produces in us a love for other believers. Because they had come thus far, Peter encouraged them (and us) to grow that into a deep, fervent love. This may seem redundant in English, but the Greek uses two different words for love. The first is Philadelphia which means brotherly love, akin to close friendship. The other is agapao which is associated with God’s perfect, unconditional love. They needed to deepen their love from affection to deep, unwavering love. But it all begins with a heart purified by obedience to the truth. That is the only way we can truly love like god. The reason we should do all of this is because we have experienced spiritual birth through the Word of God. Though we were alive physically, we were dead spiritually until God’s Word planted a seed in our hearts which birthed salvation. It is a seed unlike the one which started our physical life with sperm and egg, but is eternal and cannot be killed or destroyed. The Word of God endures forever. It never fades, falters, fails, or ceases. Like God, it is, and always will be. It is God’s spoken Word which created everything, and it is Christ who will reign for eternity. The Word is alive, active, powerful, and enduring. That is what gave us life, so we should be obedient to it and allow it to purify us so that we can sincerely and deeply love others. Do you obey the truth? Is it purifying your soul? How can you grow your love for others?

 

 

 

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