1 Peter 1:22: Having Purified Your Souls By Your Obedience To The Truth For A Sincere Brotherly Love, Love One Another Earnestly From A Pure Heart,

1 Peter 1:22

[22] Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, (ESV)

The core of this verse is an instruction on brotherly love. Peter begins by speaking to how we are able to have the love necessary to treat each other with brotherly love. He speaks of us having purified our souls by our obedience to the truth. He is giving us the key to brotherly love that so many people in this world are missing. All nations talk about peace, love, and kindness. It is never a fully realized practice.

The reason why there is so little brotherly love is because people have not purified their souls by obedience to the truth. What truth is Peter speaking of? He is speaking of the truth that Jesus Christ was sent to earth to seek us out and bring to us salvation. When we have repented of our sins and believed the truth of Jesus being the holy Son of God, and the perfect sacrifice for our sins we are purified.

The heart that continues to believe the lies of the enemy will also be incapable of truly being loving to their brother. Real love has its source in God himself. You cannot offer what you do not have. Peter knew that love was a gift that he had received from God. He was only able to love others because he himself had been purified by obeying the truth of Jesus Christ.

For all of us who have purified our souls by our obedience to the truth we need to see that God is expecting something of us. We have received God's love. He expects us to give it to one another earnestly from a pure heart. The world that does not know Jesus is watching us. They desperately need to see us demonstrating sincere love to one another. It will show them we belong to Jesus.

Do you struggle with loving your brother? Perhaps you need to evaluate whether you have had your soul purified by obeying the truth of the Gospel. We have received his love. Let's share it liberally!