Paul wrote by THE SPIRIT in Ephesians chapter 4:
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind,
18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
Love causes our heart to become pliable so that we can receive life from FATHER. We can read and research the Bible all day but if we don’t have Love, ignorance will still abound in our lives. Why? You will be studying from the wrong perspective.
Love motivates Our Heavenly Father and HIS SPIRIT to communicate to us through HIS Word. Without this perspective, we will only receive what is devoid of truth and appropriateness thus our understanding will be darkened and alienated from the life of FATHER. If Catholic priests had the revelation of Love, then how could they abuse children to fulfill their own lusts? Did they become a priest with this intent? I think not. Did they have inadequate access to The Word and related study materials? The missing ingredient in their lives is the revelation of Love.
Abuse of children is a major issue around the world and the only true solution is Love. There is more knowledge being spread around the world than ever before yet men continue to have their understanding darkened. The book stores are filled with “self-help” books yet the problems continue to mount. The news is nearly instantaneous so we cannot claim ignorance of anything except the revelation of Love.
Men have given themselves over to lewdness and to unbridled sensuality, eagerly craving the practice of every kind of impurity that their desires may demand. They continue to promote “self” anything, motivated by greed. We are encouraged to excite our senses with the latest gadgetry which ultimately takes our focus away from the spiritual. It is imperative that we not allow ourselves to be swept up in the flow of Babylon.
Babylon thrives on and promotes confusion of the heart. The result… blindness of the the heart. Those who succumb to the confusion even though they may have received revelation in the past, will have their understanding darkened and revert back to a life of “works”. What Love they possessed will lose its effectiveness in their life. They will replace Agape Love with a life based on works, laws, and traditions. They will attempt replace the emptiness with “things” to excite the senses and/or they will seek accolades from others for the works they accomplish. Their motivation will be wrong.
Jesus spoke in Matthew chapter 7:
21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.
22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’
23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
We must not allow ourselves to become blind and have our understanding darkened. As we place Agape Love at the forefront of our motivation in all matters, we will not practice lawlessness because “self” will no longer be found among us. We have allowed the old man to pass away with all his motives and selfish ambition. We must guard our hearts with Love!