Obedience to the Truth

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 HCSB

Obedience to the truth purified us. The reason we need to be purified is so we can love one another with a pure heart.
Last night at church we were instructed to pray for one another. I prayed in earnest. I had one man, a long time friend, on my right and another man, a new friend on my left. The old friend was immovable like a block of wood and seemed like a block of ice. The other man was being affected by the prayer and was touched by the Holy Spirit.

I have been a block of wood to others at times. What makes me a block of wood? Usually offense with God or people. On the surface I would not have recognised this but deep down I was unhappy.

The word of God purified my attitudes and actions to others. Earlier, before church, I was deep in conversation with my new friend and another woman came up and sat down opposite us, expecting to join in the conversation. Our conversation was private and I did not want to share it. I briefly told her what was happening but endeavoured to continue in our conversation. In this I was unkind to the newcomer. Nothing is so important that can't be picked up again later. Today I see I was unkind and am sorry. Let everything be done out of love!

Perishable seed is selfishness. Imperishable seed is God"s love. I am reminded of Jesus who wanted to spend some time with the disciples and the crowd followed. He could see their need and ministered to them. I need always to see the need. Amen!