Tuesday
Read – Psalm 119:105, 1 Peter 1:22-23
SOAP – 1 Peter 1:22-23
You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God.
The Word of God and the Spirit of God are essential in bringing to light our sinful hearts and leading us to repentance. Without the light of God’s Word our darkened hearts cannot be wakened to our need for a saviour.
In light of their salvation that came through the work of the Spirit in their lives and the eternal word of God, Peter exhorts his audience to “love one another earnestly from a pure heart.” It is not easy to love other sinners. When we remember our own depravity and God’s kindness to us in providing the perfect sacrifice, it can be easier to extend the same forgiveness and grace to others.
It was the Spirit that worked in us leading us to repentance. that same Spirit is the one that will give us strength and ability to love others well. We do not need to love one another as though we were family. We can love one another because we are family!
Lord, thank You that Your Word is living and eternal! By Your Word You brought us out of the kingdom of darkness into Your marvellous light. Help us to love one another deeply from the heart, because in You we truly are family. Amen.