We’re continuing to think through the Apostle Peter’s writings in the book of the Bible we call First Peter. I chose Peter because I spend a lot of my New Testament time studying  and thinking through what the Apostle Paul wrote to the various churches. We all need to be in the Word and have a way to be structured in our times of meditation on it. I do a lot of Bible teaching and I study a lot for that, but wanted a personal focus as well, and so I decided on First Peter. I’m using this Monday email to share my thoughts from that study with you. Sometimes my meditations are well-thought-through devotionals, and sometimes they are more random reflections as I work through the meaning for myself. Today feels like one of those to me. Hopefully you will be blessed through what I write this morning.

So now we are at 1 Peter 1:22. Here is what it says:

“Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart, ….” (1 Peter 1:22) 

Because he begins with “since you have,” that tells me he assumes his readers have done what the rest of the phrase says. That surprises me because it does not seem obvious that a significant group of Christians he is writing to would have purified their souls in obedience to the truth. But then, perhaps “purified your souls” means believed on Christ for salvation. I say that because in Romans 16:26, Paul speaks of “obedience to the faith.” If that’s what it means then, of course, every Christian will have done that by their faith. What do you think?

The next thing I find interesting is the goal he mentions as the purpose or result of the soul-purification. It is for a “sincere love” of the brethren. God wants an unhypocritical love from us toward others, especially fellow Christians. Just think of how many times in the New Testament love for God and others is the focus of the teaching.

Finally, I notice that this short phrase finishes with the words “fervently love one another from the heart.” Since you’ve purified your soul so that you will have sincere love for other believers, love them well. Fervently means eagerly and earnestly. It also has the idea of continuously, not stopping. That makes me stop and think about how fervently and unceasingly and earnestly I love the brothers and sisters in Christ that are around me. It’s really easy to be self-focused, isn’t it?

May we all focus more this week on loving one another the way God would have us do, and let us pray that such love will be an increasing priority with each of us.