Why would God issue something as a commandment? Do you think it’s just because He enjoys bossin’ us around? Or maybe you think it’s his preferred way of showing us who’s in charge? I think those things might be true now and then. But did you know that sometimes his purpose is love. Like when Paul wrote a letter to Timothy and explained how the purpose for a certain commandment was “love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5, NKJV)
*GASP* But it’s supposed to come from a pure heart. Yikes!
And I thought the Bible teaches how your heart is wicked. And it says “who can know it?” Golly gee, Wally, it’s too confusing.
But let’s see if we can sort this out a little better. Are you with me? You know what’s more than just a little bit important when you wanna get yourself a nice chunk of wisdom out of the Bible? Yeah, if you said, “context,” you’re more than a little bit right. Because if you take things out of context, the Bible, like any other book, is a lot more difficult to wrap your mind around.
When Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, he wanted his spiritual son to understand how false teachers, with ulterior motives, had wormed their way into the church at Ephesus. And he encouraged and guided Timothy to keep a pure heart motivated by love for those people and their need to hear more about the new dispensation of grace.
It’s another one of many, many times love plays the dominant role in Paul’s message. You could almost glide past that passage without a second thought about the pure heart part. But my guess is that Paul wanted Timothy to understand that his do this don’t do that counseling was necessary for the young church that needed a leader who would bring order.
On your own, you don’t have, and you never could have a pure heart. So thankfully you and I do have the Way to be seen by God as do we do have that kind of heart. And that’s why I wrote a praise and worship song that says…
Your Love Restored My Soul
From my mother’s womb You have been my God…
Even if I didn’t always know it.
And I’ve loved You since my salvation day…
Even if…I didn’t always show it.
I believe Your Son is the only Way
To the life I know is never-ending…
So I cast my lot with the King of Kings
And His Truth I trust is never bending.
Jesus…Your love restored my soul.
You gave Your life to make me whole.
I’d be a lifeless lump of coal…oh
But Jesus…Your love restored my soul.
On my darkest days I am not alone.
You indwell me with Your Holy Spirit.
And Your “still small voice” is an open book
And Your grace is there if I draw near it…
And in that open Book is the one True God…
And the words revolve around His story.
And the words are turned into flesh and bone,
And He shares, with each of us, His glory.
Chorus twice
Your love restored my soul… © 2010
Subscribe to my FunderFlash Journal. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.
Stay tuned,
