True devotion — grounded in love and a pure heart
“The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience, and a sincere faith.” —1 Timothy 1:5 (NASB)
In the first letter to Timothy, the apostle Paul reminds his beloved disciple of the essence of genuine commitment to God. In a world cluttered with diversions and competing priorities, we must intentionally connect and reconnect our hearts and minds with the core foundation of our faith. Our ultimate objective is to love others as Christ loved us, emanating from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
In our healthcare environment, we are not immune from the temptations to pursue fortune, success, fame, and pleasures that our society frequently tempts us to pursue. Research, education, patient outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and disease prevention are other competing priorities that can challenge our ability to attend to our souls. These things might have a place in our lives, but they shouldn't ever command all of our attention. On the other hand, Paul reminds us that love should be the foundation of our commitment.
As the Scriptures portray, love goes far beyond mere sentimentality or affection. It is a selfless, sacrificial, and unconditional love that seeks the well-being and flourishing of others. This love is not based on fleeting emotions but is anchored in the unchanging character of God, who is love. This love compelled Christ to lay down His life for us, and it is the same love that we are called to emulate.
When we love from a pure heart, our intentions and motivations are unclouded by self-interest or other hidden goals. We are invited to examine our souls and let the Holy Spirit cleanse us of any impurities or concealed sin. We cannot honestly and authentically love unless we wholly give our hearts to God and ask Him to purify us.
Our conscience greatly influences our faithfulness. A conscience responsive to the Holy Spirit's guidance and in line with God's Word facilitates our commitment to God. Making judgments that honor God and uphold the dignity of others is guided by a clear conscience. Engaging in spiritual practices of prayer, meditating on scripture, silence, solitude, and community worship mitigates the inevitable drift. We can walk in our faith with assurance when our conscience is clear because we know we are always obeying God's instructions and actively seeking His will.
Let's consider the foundation of our devotion as we think about 1 Timothy 1:5. Do we have a pure heart when we pursue love? Do we pay attention to and let our conscience lead us? Is our faith steadfast and sincere? May God lead us as we fervently seek His power in shaping and conforming our devotion to His good will.
—Dilys Brooks, PhD, BCC, is campus chaplain for Loma Linda University.
