Lest We Forget the Goal

pastor2022 · Moderator Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 769

Lest We Forget the Goal
Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart,
from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1:5

Amid the welter of our spiritual thoughts and words and deeds, the main thing that should be produced by all of this activity may end up being neglected. Paul wrote that the purpose (that is, the "goal" or "end") of the commandment is love. This is the object in view; it is the thing that is supposed to be produced by instruction in God's word. If we profess to be those who seek God, we need to be aware that one of the truest tests of our seeking is the test of love. If we are missing love, then we've missed the "purpose of the commandment."

The word "love," of course, means many things to many people, and the kind of love that God desires is no ordinary love. According to Paul, it comes "from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith." A "pure heart" is one that is clean and wholly devoted to God; a "good conscience" is one that is carefully protected and consistently obeyed; and "sincere faith" is genuine and without pretense. When these qualities combine, they produce a love that is remarkable. It is certainly distinct from the emotional feeling that is called "love" in the world, but it is also different from the intellectual orthodoxy that is called "love" by many Christians. The love that distinguishes the people of Christ is nothing less than the love that Christ had: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34,35).

When we think about it, the reason for love's importance is obvious. If God is love, how could we possibly draw near Him without growing in love? But what if we're seeking God and love is not increasing in our lives? We may not like to hear it, but one of two things must be true: either our "seeking" is not a serious seeking or our "God" is not the real God. If we truly seek and it is the true God whom we seek, then real love must result. John's words are clear and to the point: "He who does not love does not know God, for God is love" (1 John 4:8). If we lose sight of this fact, then we've somehow gotten off the road that leads to God.

atoz · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:40 am Post subject: Re: Lest We Forget the Goal

lone-traveler · Posted: Mon Nov 05, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

2Ch 5:13 It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers [were] as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD; and when they lifted up [their] voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of musick, and praised the LORD, [saying], For [he is] good; for his mercy [endureth] for ever: that [then] the house was filled with a cloud, [even] the house of the LORD;

YEAH!!

Hugs pastor 2022

Lone
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Joh 15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
Joh 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

pastor2022 · Moderator Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 769

Thanks Atoz and hugs back at ya' Lone. Seems to me that sometimes we get so caught up in doing stuff that we forget about "becoming" what God want us to become which is more like Jesus. I know that I find myself from time to time getting caught up in the things of the pastorate and neglecting my own time with God and then sensing the emptiness within my spirit. I've had to watch that I don't get so "busy" that I get too busy to be with God doing "for" God.

Silver Surfer · Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 9:03 pm Post subject:

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the 'end' of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. (KJV)

Romans 10:4 For Christ is the 'goal' of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
(Hebrew meaning of the word: 'end').
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Matthew 5:11 Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

theseldomscene · Banned Joined: 17 Mar 2005 Posts: 7817

that is good to know...thanks...