1 John 3:19-24; 4:2-3 3:19This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him. 23And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us. 24The one who keeps God’s commands lives in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us. … 4:2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
Today’s emphasis:
1 John 3:20-21 20If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God…
It is possible to view verse 20 in a negative way, that if we ourselves know our sins, failures, and mistakes; how much greater does God condemn the wrong in our life. While I suppose that could be a correct interpretation, for surely God does know everything—yet as I grow older and study this a little more closely, I find something deeper. God definitely knows our sinfulness, failures, and mistakes. But what I see is a loving and compassionate God ready and waiting to forgive if we would only ask. God not only knows our mistakes, but God also knows our desire to please Him, worship Him, serve Him—God sees the good, the value, and the worth in each of us. This is what gives us confidence in our hearts.
David, the Psalmist, presented this contrast so clearly…on the one side our hearts are overwhelmed with the wrongs in our life; but on the other side, there is a loving God who can repair those broken lives and restore our hearts.
Psalm 40:12 For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see. They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 86:11-12 Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever.
Gracious Heavenly Father,
Thank you that your omniscience reveals the wrong in our life so that we might ask your forgiveness. Thank you that your omniscience also reveals the good in our life that causes us to worship and praise you with our whole heart. Create in us a confident heart that praises you.
In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.
The devotional Confident Hearts appeared first on Write From My Heart at
https://writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com
email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment