Rhapsody of Realities 26 June 2023: Love the Lord With a Pure Heart
SCRIPTURE: Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (1 John 2:15).
1 Timothy 1:5 says. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.” A pure heart is a heart that loves the Lord truly and believes His Word absolutely (without any questions or doubts).
Something you should do often is to check the condition of your heart that it’s pure towards God in love. Your love for Him must be unfeigned. In reviewing what we read in our opening verse, the example of Demas, a certain character in the Bible, readily comes to mind.
Demas worked closely with Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke” and “Acts of the Apostles.” He also worked very closely with the
great Apostle Paul. In fact, Paul listed him among his fellow-labourers in the Gospel: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers…Luke the beloved physician and Demas greet you” (Colossians 4:12-14 NKJV).
Paul also mentioned him in Philemon 1:23-24 NKJV: “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.” So, Demas was a co-labourer with Paul. He was in very good company, and had a ministry to fulfil.
But in 2 Timothy 4:9-10, Paul tells Timothy: “Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me: For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica…..” This explains why some people start well and end up badly: their love for the Lord is not genuine. Paul said Demas forsook him, because he loved the world. You can’t love the Father and love the world at the s a m e time. To love this world is to not havethe love ofthe Father in you.
Read Yesterday’s Rhapsody of Realities Here
All the while Demas was labouring with Paul, Luke and the other ministers ofthe Gospel, he was lusting after the world and the things of this world. And for that reason, he ultimately couldn’t fulfil his divine destiny and purpose.
All the while Demas was labouring with Paul, Luke and the other ministers of the Gospel, he was lusting after the world and the things of this world. And for that reason, he ultimately couldn’t fulfil his divine destiny and purpose.
Love the Lord with a pure heart. Serve Him truly. Let Him be all that matters to you, for the Bible says, “Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen” (Ephesians 6:24).
PRAYER:Lord Jesus, you reign in my life; you’re all that matters to me. Thank you for the grace to live for you and serve you with a perfect heart; you’re everything to me. You’re holy, pure, righteous, loving and true! You’re the only true God; and I love you forever. Amen!
Galatians 6:14
14 But far be it from me to glory [in anything or anyone] except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) through Whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world!
Colossians 3:1-2
If then you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
2 Peter 3:11-14
Since all these things are thus in the process of being dissolved, what kind of person ought [each of] you to be [in the meanwhile] in consecrated and holy behavior and devout and godly qualities,
12 While you wait and earnestly long for (expect and hasten) the coming of the day of God by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will flare and melt with fire?
13 But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to His promise, in which righteousness (uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God) is to abide.
14 So, beloved, since you are expecting these things, be eager to be found by Him [at His coming] without spot or blemish and at peace [in serene confidence, free from fears and agitating passions and moral conflicts].
1-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Acts 12 & Nehemiah 4-6
2-YEAR BIBLE READING PLAN: Luke 4:14-32 &Deuteronomy 24
Thank you for studying today’s Rhapsody of Realities – Love the Lord With a Pure Heart – written by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome.
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