Love One Another

By obedience to the truth, having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again- not of perishable seed but of imperishable- through the living and enduring word of God. 1 Peter 1:22,23

There are many in Christ who struggle because they feel unloved. I know, having been one that there was a bit of a problem on both sides. For myself, I have to say being in a crowd where no one came and talked to me made me want to flee, so I had to choose to do the opposite, stay and push in. Last night at my church we had a Christmas production and an after party. My tendency was to escape the party and not enter in, partly because of discomfort and partly because I don't hear well in crowds. It takes all my energy to concentrate on listening and filtering out the ringing in my ears and the background noise that comes from a crowd. However, last night I stayed, partly because I has a guest and caring for her made it easier. Conversation did arrive from other sources and I managed well. I was glad I stayed. After all they are my church family.

From the other side, people who have not been through heartache, rejection and loss have no comprehension of a need to reach out. I have found that country towns can be a bit incestuous. I remember the first time my family and I returned to Tamworth to live and I asked a cousin over for coffee. She asked me what did I want. I found that amazing. That family still are all living for each other and rarely reach out, they are happy. When are large group of people are like this it is hard for a newcomer to merge with the rock.

Yet, what does the scripture above say? 'Having purified yourselves for sincere love of the brothers.' We can be oblivious to the fact that we are unclean, but it seems at what we are when we fail to acknowledge the brother's need. When we have a pure heart we can love earnestly. A pure heart sees God and sees His heart. He sees and hears our needs and longs to complete us with the love of the brethren.

We have been born again of good seed, imperishable seed. We have no excuse. We must bed ourselves in the good soil of the word of God and it will germinate a heart for God and His people. Amen!