Don’t Copy Demas – Rhapsody Of Realities TeeVo Devotional October 18th

(Love The Father With A Pure Heart)

TO THE BIBLE: 1 Timothy 1:5 ESV
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”

LET’S TALK
A pure heart is one that loves the Lord truly and believes His Word absolutely (without any questions or doubts).

It’s important to regularly check the condition of your heart to ensure that your love for God is real and sincere. Your love for Him should be without any pretence.

In reviewing what we read in our opening verse, the example of Demas, a certain character in the Bible, readily comes to mind.

Demas worked closely with Luke, the writer of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles. He also worked very closely with the great apostle Paul.

In fact, Paul listed him among his fellow-labourers in the Gospel: “Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings.

He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured… Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings” (Colossians 4:12-14 NIV).

Paul also mentioned him in Philemon 1:23-24: “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.”

So, Demas was a co-labourer with Paul. He was in very good company and had a ministry to fulfill. But in 2 Timothy 4:9–10, Paul tells Timothy: “Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica….”

This explains why some people start well and end up badly: their love for the Lord is not genuine. Apostle Paul said Demas forsook him because he loved the world.

You can’t love the Father and love the world at the same time. To love this world is to not have the love of the Father in you.

Demas might have been working alongside Paul and other Christians, but deep down, his heart was more focused on the world and what it offered. Because of that, he couldn’t fulfil his divine destiny and purpose, and he missed out on what God had planned for him.

So, love the Lord with a pure heart. Serve Him genuinely, and let Him be the most important thing in your life.

Go Deeper
Galatians 6:14; Colossians 3:1-2; 2 Peter 3:11-14

Speak:
Lord Jesus, you reign in my life; you’re all that matters to me. Thank you for the grace to live for you and serve you with a perfect heart; you’re everything to me. You’re holy, pure, righteous, loving and true! You’re the only true God; and I love you forever. Amen!

Daily Bible Reading
ONE YEAR
2 Thessalonians 3:1-18, Isaiah 48-49
TWO YEAR
John 6:30-40, 2 Kings 4

Act:
Study and meditate on Ephesians 6:24: “Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”