Good Medicine!

“Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, 23 having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, 24 because ‘All flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, 25 But the word of the Lord endures forever.’ Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you”
1 Peter 1:22–25 (NIV)

Purified souls—these days the emphasis is on purifying our bodies! COVID-19 seems to spread too easily. Please be extra careful to clean your hands, especially in public, if you have go shopping for example. This is a good truth to obey for the health and blessing of all. We do this out of love and concern for our friends and family and every person.

What else plagues people? What plague is so insidious and virulent that it infects and destroys our body and soul? “Obeying the truth” is a preventative. 1 Peter 1:22 gives a preventative measure for the soul: “in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart.”

Christ has purified us with His blood, but in this world, we yet suffer symptoms and need to take preventative measures. The symptoms “are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these.” Galatians 5:19-21.

Loving and caring for one another is an action we take, like washing our hands or disinfecting our countertops. Faith in Christ has purified us. We don’t obey to earn anything from God. We walk in love because it never fails. “Above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” 1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV). Stay healthy! “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well” 3 John 3 (NIV).