1 John 3:19-20 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things.
Have you been convicted by this passage at all? I know I have. My lack of love and mixed motives have become more apparent. I see my sin, the fact that God has required perfection and I am so far from it. Though I practice righteousness, trying to to the right things, I know that I have been angry with my brother and have seen my good works as a bartering tool. This verse should bring us hope! John tells us that as we look at our lives, acknowledging our needs, confessing our sins and turning to obedient behavior, we will see the Spirit working. We have assurance that God is with us and at work perfecting us. This assurance is the constant theme of this letter. John wrote this in chapter 2:
1 John 2:12-14
I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake. 13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have overcome the evil one. I have written to you, children, because you know the Father. 14 I have written to you, fathers, because you know Him who has been from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one.
While we are constantly examining our hearts and lives to root out selfish motives and corruption, we have the assurance that Christ is our salvation. He is at work, loving us in deed and truth, teaching us to love this way. It is because God has already showed us such love that we are able to respond. God hasn’t shown us His love and forgiven us because of our repentance and turning, He loved us and we respond in faith and obedience. As we reflect on that, ask: how has this study of 1 John 3 convicted me? What sins do I need to confess? How is Christ’s work on the cross and in my life leading me to deal with these sins?
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