Love With Pure Motives (Santosh Poonen)

The process of purifying always involves removal - of that which is impure - and that removal is often painful. The things that God asks us to give up, are the things that He will use to bring His triumph and authority into our lives. Paul's letters to Timothy were written toward the end of his life, as his "handing off the torch" to Timothy, the one co-worker he had who did not seek his own. The apostle who had the greatest amount of revelation on Christ and His Church summarizes the goal of the entire gospel as love from a pure heart. The reason you exist on earth is to further God's authority on earth by faith (I Timothy 1:4). Purity of heart is different from purity of the flesh and purity of mind. It is being focused on God alone. Make your goal love that will: 1. Seek Only the Face of God (Psalm 24): Have you seen that everything belongs to God (v1-2)? Are you broken and desperate for God like Jacob was (v4)? Are you tired of only asking God for His blessings (Psalm 24:5a)? Then ask Him for Himself - His very Divine Nature (Psalm 24:5b) - and you will never thirst again? 2. Find Satisfaction in God Alone (Psalm 73): Your circumstances don't determine who you are; who you are, however, does determine how you react to circumstances; such is the unshakeable life of one who has Christ living in Him; Have you experienced the deeper level of goodness that God shows to those who are pure in heart (Psalm 73:1)? If you have been tempted by the seeming problem-free life of sinners (v3), them come "home" (v17) and let God be all that you want (v25-27); The only "good life" is one in which God is near (v28). When a telescope is not focused, you can see many things, but they're all blurry. When you focus it on one thing, everything else vanishes from sight, but you can see the one thing clearly! Do you want to see God? Then purify the motives of your heart (Matthew 5:8). "But, folks, it's boiled down to one issue. One desire. It's more than wanting to be loved and appreciated, or the cheers and praises of Man. It's more than being comfortable and knowing that you're secure in your old age, you've got some retirement plan. That means nothing! It comes down to this one issue: I want to be like Jesus. I want to see His face and I want to be a reflection of who He is. Lord, when you said, 'Seek my face,' my heart said unto You, 'Thy face, Lord, will I seek.' That's the answer!" (David Wilkerson)