1 Timothy 1.5 5 The aim of our charge is love that issues
from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (ESV)
Triads. They’re crazy things and they appear in every
part of life. Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; spirit, soul, and body; proton, neutron,
electron; earth, wind, fire; Crosby, Stills, and Nash... (Sorry, I couldn’t
resist…). Paul said the aim of our charge
(command, directive, impetus) is love that comes from the triad of: purity of
heart, cleanliness of conscience, and a sincerity of faith. Possess these three,
and love pours forth! A good stool has at least three legs.
I discussed yesterday, the conundrum of faith in that: is Jesus expecting something from
us behaviorally that we’re to manufacture, or is He keenly aware of what His
presence and power will bring forth in our lives? The difficulty is what we
hear Paul saying in his epistles to us: that our lives need some effort on our
part to receive, accept, and appropriate the presence and power of Jesus (the
Holy Spirit). That is what makes the
difference in our lives – not our effort.
So, how do we triangulate the triad of a pure heart, a
good conscience, and a sincere faith? How does that work without effort on our part? I think it boils down to cooperation
and obedience. If Jesus, by His Spirit, dwells within us then it’s incumbent upon
us to cooperate with His presence. And as we recognize, receive, accept, and
appropriate our actions and attitudes toward that presence the result is purity, goodness, and a faith
that is genuine and sincere. We’re not manufacturing anything – He is as we cooperate, eagerly and
willingly, with Him.
And then and there love flows… like a flood.
I tend to be analytical. (Really Paul, we never noticed!) And I see love as something that
requires effort from me – as if I have to have a part in it. Love has to do
with me only as the banks of a river contain the normal flow of the water. When
I look at a river, I am glad for the banks but I concentrate on the flow. The
first time I ever saw the Mississippi River I didn’t exclaim: O! The banks! No,
I said: Wow! What a river!! The water
only flows between the banks.
Love in my life flows not from self-manufacture, but from
presence: His presence. And His presence creates purity, goodness, and living
faith flowing within the banks of my being – sometimes the banks are not
enough. And the more I walk with Him the more the banks are not enough…
Lord Jesus,
Today, I see and celebrate Your presence and power within
me creating a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith; and
everything else that comes with that. Lord, may I cease trying to manufacture
that which I already have. May I simply recognize, receive, accept, and
appropriate what You have placed in me because You live in me – in Your Name,
amen.
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