Have you ever encountered what you thought was a false preacher? He stood on a corner shouting out something about The Messiah Jesus but then threw in some modern mumbo-jumbo that didn’t flow with the Gospel. His thoughts on the love of God gets a bit mixed up with modern thoughts and legalistic commands.

The preacher stood on a box, shaking his fist at the world. Some people nodded and others scoffed as they strolled by. You scratched your head at some of the twisted truths while your heart sang when you heard Jesus proclaimed. You wondered if it was the enemy coming through trying to bring down truth, or if it was Jesus coming through trying to defeat the lies of the lips.

Paul was always thankful for his friends who helped to further the Gospel. He encouraged people through letters and visits. Paul even dealt out love from prison, propelling people to love more, work more, and hold on to faith more.

Even in chains, Paul used the Gospel for good. He claimed the truth throughout his travels and while behind bars to the imperial guard. Speaking without fear, Paul saw a transformation in those who had even held him prisoner.

The Lord’s love was always with Paul. This love was so strong that Paul sang praises when Jesus was proclaimed through false motivations and with selfish-conceit.

Philippians 1: 17-19 NIV The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

Have you ever felt like a kind of false preacher? Maybe you didn’t stand on a corner, fist shaking and yelling through a mega-phone, but inside your own mind you threw out false motives in prayer. After realizing the lies inside your own mind, you fall victim to more onslaughts from the enemy. He calls you fake, liar, or even declares that you aren’t good enough to speak life anyway.

Even in these false pretenses and ill-gotten motives, you see the Lord’s goodness, you believe the Lord’s truth. You just haven’t figured out how to be good enough to attain the love that others have grasped on to.

These falsities cannot keep you away from the love of God. It is always there. His word declares that His faithful love towards those who fear Him is so great that it is as high as the heavens are above the earth (Psalm 103:11).

Depths of canyons, flights above clouds, the distance between east and west, these things are nothing compared to the love that God has for you.  He wipes away your false motives.