SEARCHLIGHT
Do you genuinely love? Could your love be self-centered or self-seeking?
SCRIPTURE
The purpose of my instruction is that all believers would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a genuine faith. But some people have missed this whole point. They have turned away from these things and spend their time in meaningless discussions. 1 Timothy 1:5,6 New Living Translation
SPOTLIGHT
Johann Heinrich von Dannecker was a German sculptor who lived from1758 to 1841. In his early life, he gained for himself a reputation for his statues of Adriadne and other Greek goddesses. As he approached the prime of life, he felt compelled to devote his strength to the creation of a masterpiece. He decided to carve a figure of Jesus Christ. Twice he failed but finally, he carved an image that could only be described as both perfect and exquisite. It was said that when people gazed upon it, they expressed love and adoration. Later Napoleon made a request to the sculptor, “Come to Paris and make for me a statue of Venus for the Louvre.” Dannecker’s genuine love for Jesus had changed the heart of the great sculptor. He simply replied, “Sire, the hands that carved the Christ can never again carve a heathen goddess.” This great opportunity never even tempted him. The love he now possessed was for God. The love he now exhibited was Godly.
How do you gauge if you have a genuine love for God and people? Paul wrote to Timothy offering 3 INDICATORS OF GENUINE LOVE. The above Scripture identifies that expressing genuine Godly love should be man’s highest goal. When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he told them that God’s love was their most valuable possession. See 1 Corinthians 13. Now Paul tells Timothy and other believers that there are 3 ways to gauge whether a person truly loves like God loves. Having a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith are the 3 signs of God’s love.
It is time for a life inventory check. How much of God’s love do you have? That question can be asked in numerous ways. How much love for God do you have? How much do you lack? How much love for others do you have? How much do you lack? How much do you share Christ’s love with people? How loving are you? How loveable are you? All these questions ask the key question “How much of God’s love do you have?”
Here are 3 questions that you can ask yourself to determine the answer to the above questions.
- Is your love pure or pompous? Is it uncontaminated by self-interest? Are your motives filled with integrity or are they mixed? Man looks outwardly but God looks inwardly. What does Jesus Christ see when He looks at your heart? Your love is genuine when you have heart that is fresh as a pure mountain stream.
- Is your conscience clear and clean or do you pretend it is like that? Does it tell you that you are not guilty? Does your conscience approve or disapprove of your thought life and your behavior? Do you experience Godly sorrow? [2 Corinthians 7:10[ Have you a clouded conscience? A man half-heartedly wanted to clear his conscience so he wrote the Internal Revenue Service stating, “I can’t sleep. My conscience is bothering me. Enclosed find a check for $50.00. If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send you the balance.” Your love is genuine when you have a conscience that is clear as glass.
- Is your faith in Jesus practiced or professed? You can verbally say what you believe but not live it. Is your faith genuine or counterfeit? The Bible says “…the only thing that counts is faith expressing itself in love.” [Galatians 5:6] Professing faith without practicing faith is hypocrisy. Do you have a sincere faith? Do your words match your walk? At the bottom of a letter, you will often see above the signature the word “Sincerely”. That word was first used as “sin cerely” by ancient sculptors to identify a flawless piece of work. It meant “without wax”. Wax was often used to conceal defects. A chipped nose or a poorly shaped finger could be patched with wax. Your love is genuine when you have a faith without wax.
True love comes from God. For you to possess true love, you will need to have a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a strong, sincere faith.
SOMETHING TO DO
Do you genuinely love God and therefore love others as God loves you? Imagine yourself to be like a home. Someone has indicated that genuine faith is love’s foundation. Your conscience is love’s roof and walls. Finally, your pure heart is love’s heating system. What does your home look like?
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Heavenly Father, You just do not give love but You are love. Fill me with divine love that will be so genuine it is expressed in my life by my pure heart, clear conscience, and sincere faith. AMEN!