Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart.1 Peter 1:22 (ESV)
Jesus warned us that in the last times lawlessness (wickedness, violation of the law) will increase and as a result the love of many will grow cold (Matthew 24:12). We only have to read the news headlines or watch the evening news to know that Jesus’ prophesy is being fulfilled in our lifetime. And if we are not near to the return of Christ imagine how intense the coldness will grow the nearer his return.
However, no matter how lawless and cold the world becomes, the church has a mandate to keep love hot, not only for God, but also for those of the household of God. In fact, in 1 Peter 1:22, Peter commands us to love sincerely and earnestly from a pure heart. This type of love is expected from those who have purified their souls by obedience to the truth of God’s word. People who have purified their souls are those who, having been born again, have continued a spiritual growth toward holiness (2 Corinthians 7:1).
To have a sincere brotherly love means to love without pretension (deceit) or hypocrisy; to have genuine feelings. Hypocrisy is pretending to have something that one does not possess. To love earnestly from a pure heart goes even deeper than brotherly love or affection. It means to love fervently with a heart that is not contaminated with self-seeking, impure motives. The word fervent means having or showing great warmth or intensity of spirit, feeling and enthusiasm, hot, burning or glowing.
Paul used the same words as Peter in exhorting us to love. He wrote, Let love be genuine (sincere). Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection (brotherly love). Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:9-10) He wrote to Timothy, The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)
Imagine the impact the church will have on a world whose love has grown cold if we will love one another the way Peter and Paul commands us. Jesus said, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. (John 13:34-35)
Our witness for Christ is affected by the love we show our fellow believers. If we love our brethren with lip service only and only so far as they meet our requirements, we will look no different than the world and the world will notice. But, if we genuinely love our brethren in Christ in spite of their faults and economic, educational, ethnic or racial differences we will glorify Jesus and the world will notice. So, Let brotherly love continue. (Hebrews 13:1)
Do you genuinely love those who love God? Does your love for the brethren prove you are a disciple of Jesus?
Scriptures for meditation:
Philippians 2:3
1 Peter 2:17