Gaining Credibility as a Christian through a Pure Heart of Love - The Crosswalk Devotional - November 7
Gaining Credibility as a Christian through a Pure Heart of Love
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:35
Have you ever felt like someone was questioning your intentions? In the midst of a moment or situation where you were sure your heart was pure. When your soul wanted nothing more than to serve for the good of another or others. And to bless others for the glory of God. Yet, somewhere on the other end, for some reason, that wasn’t what seemed to be perceived. It felt like someone even thought you were doing wrong, something self-focused, or something that certainly wasn’t based on a heart yielded to God’s holy will and way.
I was consumed with this same sense last week. God had placed a special someone firmly on my heart a few months back. Someone who needed his blessing in a rich way, in a trying season of her life. And as my plans to help and serve became known, it suddenly seemed there were some skeptical eyes on the sidelines. And if I’m being brutally honest, it pained me deeply. I knew my heart was pure. I knew God had called me to help in this specific way. I had prayed and prayed for his discernment and guidance. For humility, and for the love of Christ to be shown and known. But nonetheless, because of the rocky response, I found myself questioning the call. Questioning my conviction and intention. And so I did all that I knew how to do. Pray, listen, follow the Lord's lead. And to love.
John 13:35 says, By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. This reminds me that everyone will know we are truly followers of Christ, that we are filled with Christ, by the love that they see in us. And by the love that flows from us. When people see our love, they will see him. And I don’t know about you, but I want people to see him. So I will continue to love out loud. That is what we all should continue to do. And we should not question our love, or the intention to love, for others.
If you are truly seeking the Lord. If you genuinely desire to love the way Jesus would love, and if he is laying specific calls and directions on your heart, trust him. We need not listen to what others say, or what others might think. The enemy will certainly try to confuse and derail our good intentions. The enemy will try to make you cower to bold love. Or any bold action on behalf of Jesus.
While I was being bombarded by the enemy’s misleading manipulations, I took some time to reflect, to pray, and to ask God to impress the truth upon my heart. I asked him to remove any thoughts or ideas that were not of him. I asked him to help me love the people in my path. How to best give him all the credit for every act of love and blessing. How to be confident in the particular instructions of love he had just for me. And then for peace that he would work out the details and heal the fractured pieces of every heart involved.
And that’s just what he did. He gave me clarity. He gave me peace. He increased my humility to even better reflect his heart. He allowed me to be a beacon of his love light. And above all, he allowed others to see him. Not me, but Jesus. It wasn’t, and isn’t, about me or any of us. It’s never about our glory. It’s always about Jesus and his glory. And so it doesn’t even matter what some may think or say. God will use your pure heart to show his to the exact people who need it. You will gain credibility and be seen rightly, with and by the right people, when you have the right heart. A pure heart that sincerely, vulnerably, and genuinely longs to point others to him, and only to him.
Intersecting Faith & Life:
Let’s keep loving boldly and serving big in the ways the Lord leads us. With a pure heart. Surrendered and yielded to him. Humbled and bowed down before him. Knowing that he will reveal his goodness and the purity of our hearts to the souls he intends to bless. And those people—his people—will know the truth, will know his love, will come to know him… by our pure and holy hearts of pure and holy love.
Join the conversation! Share how today’s devotional encouraged or challenged you in your walk with Christ.
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Related Resource: 9 Confusing Things about God– Answered By a Christian Philosopher
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