Thought for Today
Purity of Purpose
“And having this confidence,
I know that I shall abide and continue with you all
for your furtherance and joy of faith”
Philippians 1:25
Paul’s life was set for the singular purpose of seeing God’s people grow into the unity, life and joy of the faith. His course was one of abandonment to this one purpose. He was not interested in winning the applause of others or the adulation of his peers; his passion was simple and pure… to present the Church of the Living God as a “chaste virgin” unto Christ Himself.
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy:
for I have espoused you to one husband,
that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ”
2 Corinthians 11:2
There existed no ulterior motive of self, there was no desire to raise up a denomination, sect or place for himself, his life was a live offering unto God. Whenever there is a dualistic desire for God and self, God’s purposes will eventually be compromised. The power of the pure love of God beating within a heart will ever bring the life of an individual to the singularity of seeing the holiness, passion and wonder of Christ ruling within the lives of His Own. It is for the furtherance of the faith of others that the ministrations of the Holy Spirit flow forth from the lives of His Own.
The poured out life is a full life, the life offered to God Himself is one free from the stain of self-seeking and self-realization. God’s eye is always upon the motive of heart; not so much on what is accomplished as it is on why a thing is done.
“…for the Lord is a God of knowledge,
and by him actions are weighed”
1 Samuel 2:3
The Life of Jesus was lived in the full desire to glorify the Father and to raise us up to live fully in the same.
“And for their sakes I sanctify myself,
that they also might be sanctified through the truth”
John 17:19
Our desire to live a sanctified life is for the sake of others. They who live or seek to portray a sanctified life in order to propagate self profane the truth, beauty and power of its purpose.
Love is the only motive which can produce
the life of Christ within our hearts.
Brian Troxel
