Obeying the Truth Purifies Us
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. For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable through the living and enduring word of God. – 1 Peter 1:22-23
It is one thing to know the truth and quite another to obey the truth. Those who simply know the truth will tend to become harsh and judgmental of others while justifying their own behaviors. Those who obey the truth have been purified by it.
When we have been purified by the truth we are purged of self, self-will, self-centeredness and self-justification. We move from being self-centered to being others-centered. We are not moved by self-realization but we are moved by Christ-realization.
Too often people “accept Christ” because they are afraid of the consequences of rejecting him. Their entire life is about how they can keep from getting in trouble with God. Their life is still about themselves.
When we have been truly born again of “imperishable” seed we are changed; we now love others more than ourselves and our life becomes centered around how we can serve others.
How has accepting Christ changed your attitude about others?
Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace of loving others from a heart and life that has been purified by the truth. I need to have the fullness of Christ living in me so I can love as he loved. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: When we have been purified by the truth we are purged of self, self-will, self-centeredness and self-justification. We move from being self-centered to being others-centered. We are not moved by self-realization but we are moved by Christ-realization.
Affirmation: I have obeyed the truth and now the truth is purifying me. As I learn more of His truth and obey it, His nature grows inside of me.
Reflection: Notice those around you who claim to be followers of Christ. Is their life a projection of themselves, or do they project Christ? What about you? Do you think of God in terms of what he can do for you or how you can serve him?
It is one thing to know the truth and quite another to obey the truth. Those who simply know the truth will tend to become harsh and judgmental of others while justifying their own behaviors. Those who obey the truth have been purified by it.
When we have been purified by the truth we are purged of self, self-will, self-centeredness and self-justification. We move from being self-centered to being others-centered. We are not moved by self-realization but we are moved by Christ-realization.
Too often people “accept Christ” because they are afraid of the consequences of rejecting him. Their entire life is about how they can keep from getting in trouble with God. Their life is still about themselves.
When we have been truly born again of “imperishable” seed we are changed; we now love others more than ourselves and our life becomes centered around how we can serve others.
How has accepting Christ changed your attitude about others?
Prayer: Lord, grant me the grace of loving others from a heart and life that has been purified by the truth. I need to have the fullness of Christ living in me so I can love as he loved. In Jesus name, amen.
Message: When we have been purified by the truth we are purged of self, self-will, self-centeredness and self-justification. We move from being self-centered to being others-centered. We are not moved by self-realization but we are moved by Christ-realization.
Affirmation: I have obeyed the truth and now the truth is purifying me. As I learn more of His truth and obey it, His nature grows inside of me.
Reflection: Notice those around you who claim to be followers of Christ. Is their life a projection of themselves, or do they project Christ? What about you? Do you think of God in terms of what he can do for you or how you can serve him?
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