Be Sincere

1 Tim 1:5

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Love is the most prominent and important aspect within the Word of God. The Lord Jesus, in answering the Pharisees said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend the whole law.” The disciple John sets forth the theme of God’s love in his gospel and throughout his three books; he wanted everyone to know what true love really was.

That is the aim of our charge, but it needs to come from a pure heart, a heart cleansed from all sin. In Psalm 51 we see a repentant David beseeching God for His forgiveness. Look at the words he uses, ‘wash me, cleanse me, purge me, restore me, deliver me’, and we get that wonderful verse, ‘create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.’ David poured out his soul to God in order to have a pure heart.

You and I confessed our sin when we accepted Jesus to be the Lord and Saviour of our lives. As you know of course, it doesn’t end there, it’s not a one-of thing. We need to return to God time and time again and confess our failings. John tells us that ‘if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves’. So, don’t hold anything back, tell Him everything and let His unending mercy cleanse your heart and mind so that you can continue your walk with a good conscience.

and a sincere faith… do you ever wonder if someone is being sincere with you? If their words or actions are genuine or just for show? We all long for those around us to be truthful and honest. Let’s face it though, we all enjoy a good story and a really good one usually comes with a few embellishments. Each time the story is told the new teller adds or changes a word or two and builds the story up. Before you know it, the tale bears little resemblance to the original! When it comes to the gospel however, we don’t need to add anything to it and when it comes to showing the love of God, we don’t need anything flashy or false. Genuine love is pure, good and sincere. May God bless you as you show His love today.