1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: Read also 1 Timothy 1-20.
Some of us remember the hippie generation, when people sang about love, sweet love (which they pronounced and spelled “luv”). Well, I had the experience of meeting some of those “luvly” folk and found them decidedly disagreeable and vindictive. The kind of love that Paul speaks of here is not man-generated at all. You and I have to have it, but we don’t come by it naturally.
The One who cleansed our sinful hearts initially, and who keeps on cleansing us daily by “the washing of water by the Word,” is the One who has entrusted us with “the glorious Gospel of the blessed God” (v. 11). He has done it. Praise God!
One of the great heartaches for the world traveler lies in seeing so many people who have a God-shaped vacuum in their hearts yet have never found Him. So they go on reaching and groping to satisfy their constant hunger, not knowing that only the Gospel satisfies. A missionary friend of mine told of meeting a man in India whose right hand was stretched high above his head. It had been in that position for fifteen years. The joints of his shoulder had calcified; the arm was useless. “Why did you do this?” my friend asked the man. “Years ago,” the man replied, “I made a vow that I wouldn’t lower my right hand until I found forgiveness for my sin and cleansing for my heart.” My friend asked, “Well, Sir, have you found forgiveness?” The poor seeker looked away with sadness and said, “No, Sahib. Not yet… not yet.” The problem with the human race is that there is only one way to a holy God. Spurning the way, all our best efforts are simply a “feigned’ approach—something not genuine, something put on.
This devotional was written by Dr. Robert A. Cook. You can subscribe to his free email articles at Walk With The King Today and listen to his Spirit-filled 15-minute messages at www.walkwiththeking.org. Used with written permission.
Ephesians 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; Ephesians 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
