19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will [a]assure our heart before Him 20 [b]in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence [c]before God; 22 and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.
23 This is His commandment, that we [d]believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He[e]commanded us. 24 The one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. We know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
Earlier in the chapter, John talks about how we can know that we have been saved, or brought from death unto life - by the way we love each other. Believe in the name of Jesus Christ and love one another, and here again we find that lovely word "abide". When we keep His commandments, we abide in Him, and he in us. We have received the Holy Spirit, and as we abide and love and obey, we receive the fruit of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self control. Anyone think it's an accident that love is the first thing on that list? I don't. Not a chance.
This is my latest most favourite song that I've been singing with the Sunday School kids for the last few weeks:
Love and serve - with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, through the power of the Holy Spirit. Because God knows we need the help! All along, John has made it clear that if we truly love God, we abide in Him and He in us, and we will want more and more to serve and obey Him, and in doing so, love those around us. Not to say that we'll get it right all the time - we know we won't and so does He. But "God is greater than our heart and knows all things" and He sees our hearts and He knows when we are trying to serve Him, even when our actions do not always come out right.
Have a great Thursday, or Friday, or whatever day you happen to read this.
Tomorrow's scripture focus: 1 John 4:1
2 comments:
Great song and great reminder that God knows our intentions and our heart.
Believing, loving, obeying - that so sums it up doesn't it?
God knows our hearts - and He loves us anyway, and He died for us anyway and He forgives us anyway.
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