A Pure Heart Plus

In I Timothy 1, Paul tells Timothy to end speculation on questions like what can we do for those already dead. Then, he adds words we need to take to heart and think on long term. For he asks us to do all this with a pure heart.  Take a look.

³ As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer ⁴ or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—which is by faith. ⁵ The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

You could say we have here a new definition of Godly love. It can arise from a pure heart, good conscience, and a sincere faith.  To me, this 3 point list can be a lifetime project.

When we start to confront people, we really need to check our heart and get help. When we come to God, it is His request.

A Pure Heat and More is a Lot- But God Works

Oh, to see our heart as clearly as God does.  God made about 15% of the people with a pure heart as their real focus. (They have an NF in the MBTI test).  They are the best and themselves say they are far from it. This does not mean God does not want us to think on these. Note the Beatitudes.

Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.

Yes, pure heart is our future, but we are called to it now.

If we are honest, our best acts usually cannot have a pure heart like God does. God is working in us as we open ourselves to His work. We need to check ourselves and back off and even admit when our motives our not pure. As Christians, we need to show humility.

A good conscience is like pure heart, but can we say it is ability to see ourselves ass acting correctly? In this context we can see Paul does not intend for political correctness, but a real work of God within us. If we start comparing ourselves with others, then we are far from the text.

Finally, without a sincere faith, how can we be transformed to such a degree? In our own strength, we cannot be be pure. We all have selfish motives that God wants to work on.

Are we ready to seek God and man with a pure heart? Or better and better?