Sincere

"Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart." 1 Peter 1:22

Peter writes this knowing that when we come to know the truth of Jesus there is a change in us - it is this truth of Jesus that brings about a love for our brothers. In other words - ok, so now that you love others because you now know Jesus, let's take it a step further - now love each other even deeper than you already are - from your heart. I think we have to really stop and get quiet with God. We have to be honest with ourself and with God in areas where we are not loving. People we are not loving like this.

God loves me despite myself. He loves me deeply even when I am not listening for his voice, even when I am being selfish, even when I am being disobedient to his word. He just keeps on loving me. Don't we do this as parents, love our children even when their being unloveable? Now take this love into those outside your family. Maybe you need to in your family, I don't know, but taking this love to the next level can be a challenge.

But.....you can't do this on your own. Remember the scripture "We love because he first loved us." Ask Christ to fill you so full with his love, to make you an instrument of love to others. What a beautiful prayer - "God, fill me so full with your love that it overflows into the lives of others around me." I would add to this prayer - "Lord, give me eyes to see what you see."