1 Peter 1:22

This verse describes the chain reaction impact of the gospel, followed by a challenge to take love to another level. First, a person “obeys the truth” (ie: believes the truth of the gospel) and is saved. Then the gospel has a “purifying” impact on that person from the inside out. Meaning, once we are saved God begins a life-transformation process that begins with the inner life of our motives and attitudes and works itself outward to our relationships and treatment of those around us. What this looks like is that we become the kind of Christ-followers that genuinely care about other people and increasingly love them out of a right motive (“sincere love”) that desires to bless others even if I get nothing in return, not expecting anything in return. Finally, Peter challenges us to take that Christ-like love and turn it up even higher, to “love one another deeply, from the heart.” This is a passionate, radically sacrificial, action-oriented love that we are to regularly choose to do towards one another. And we have seen and experienced this kind of love ourselves because this is the kind of love we have received from God through the gift and rescue of His Son! Does this “deeply, from the heart” language describe how you have loved someone lately? Go, do it now!

PASSAGE: 1 Peter 1:22 - "Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart."

PAUSE: Peter uses various descriptors to describe our love for one another. The bottom line is this: we are called to love one another based on our relationship with Jesus Christ. This love must be sincere, pure, and sacrificial.     

PRAYER: Our Father, thank you for giving me a pure heart. Forgive me for the many times I fail to love others from a pure heart. Help me to love others!