A Pure heart

Good morning! A new day and opportunity await you, all you must do is believe and thank the creator of heaven and earth for His kindness and His love.  I looked up this type of love this morning and here is the definition of Agape love. Agape love is “from Ancient Greek ἀγάπη (agápē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to unconditional love, “the highest form of love, charity” and “the love of God for man and of man for God”.  The word is not to be confused with philia, brotherly love, or philautia, self-love, as it embraces a universal, unconditional love that transcends and persists regardless of circumstance. It goes beyond just the emotions to the extent of seeking the best for others.  Here is what Paul wrote to Timothy in  1Timothy 1:5 NET “But the aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” 

The point and purpose or the desired outcome of these messages sent every morning are to instruct and teach without any intent to influence or change anyone, but to define love that we may walk in freedom.  This is why we must first love God before loving others. That love or charity can and will withstand the test of time. The EasyEnglish version puts this in words many can relate to, 1Timothy 1:5 “Here is the reason why I am telling you to do this. I want people really to love each other. Only people who are good and clean inside themselves can love like that. Those people know the difference between what is right and wrong. And they try to do only what is right. People love properly only when they believe God.”

 You can love properly or unconditionally when you truly believe God. Recently we were driving home one night and the inside glass became hazy. We turned on the defrost but when the lights from the oncoming cars hit the windshield the haze returned. It wasn’t until we made it home that I was able to properly clean the inside glass and remove the haze, so we could see clearly. Notice that it wasn’t until the light hit the glass did we know it was dirty. 

Over the last few weeks, we have had Light hit our windows to show us that it was not clean. It takes an external light for us to become aware of our inability to see clearly. The second lesson is, without being ‘good and clean inside’ we won’t see clearly.  From the first glance of the state we were in, the windows were clean. After close examination, under the proper circumstances, it revealed that the windows were not as clean as we believed. 

Today can we begin to allow the light of the Holy Spirit to shine on the windshield of our lives to reveal to us any areas that lack cleaning that will cause us not to see clearly.  I received many personal responses from yesterday’s devotion. I believe that our instructions are changing hearts, and we are experiencing the love God intended for us. We can’t hide behind unclean glass and believe that it is clean because the light in others will also reveal the dirt that clouds our view.  God bless my beloved.