1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)
22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart,
This command concerning one another is the most important of all because it encompasses all the rest. If we truly love one another, we will care for, forgive, encourage, and teach and admonish one another.
Peter tells us to love one another earnestly. The Greek word here carries, not only the idea of intensity but also of endurance. Vine’s Expository Dictionary tells us that it means “without ceasing.” Since love encompasses all that we have considered this week, all of these things should be done continually. We should not care for each other every once in a while, but, rather, we should do so without ceasing. Forgiving one another should be something we are always willing to do because it is a part of loving one another, and true love does not come and go but is always present. Paul tells us that it never ends (1 Corinthians 13:8).
Not only must our love one for another be earnest, but it must proceed from a pure heart. The word pure here simply means to be clean. The idea is that our heart must be free from the corruption of sin, especially hypocrisy. That is the only kind of heart that is conducive to having a relationship with God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). Love that is produced by a pure heart is sincere and transparent. When you love someone, they do not have to wonder about it. Is there any doubt that God loves us? No, none whatsoever, because His love for us has been clearly demonstrated. That is the kind of love that we must have for one another; not a love that is just talked about, but one that is shown.
1 John 3:16-18 (ESV)
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. 17 But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? 18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
We know how to love one another because Jesus showed us how. He sacrificed His life for us, showing that real love is sacrificial. This is the kind of love we must show one another in Christ. We must have a love that is willing to put the needs of our brethren before our own wants…a love that is willing to forego personal liberties if it will help other members of the church. Paul is a good example of this.
1 Corinthians 9:19-22 (ESV)
19 For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them…22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
This is how true love behaves. Paul wanted to save others, and that desire was more important to him than his own freedoms. Local churches filled with members who have that kind of love—a love that is willing to sacrifice and put others first, are churches filled with people who are pleasing to God. Are you one of those people? Let us all strive to be. The church will be better off because of it, and our souls will be safe in the hands of God.
As you wind down for the night, think about these things.