Condemnation of the Heart

1 John 3:19-24

 

19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and reassure our hearts before him 20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; 22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him. 23 And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us. 24 All who keep his commandments abide in him, and he in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit which he has given us. RSV

 

Before the scientific understanding of the circulatory system, surely there was an intuitive connection between blood and the beating of the heart. One could feel a beating in one’s chest and note that when we are frightened or emotionally excited or physically stressed the intensity of that sensation increased. When someone was to do something important, he might have felt a pounding in his chest. Therefore, the connection between an important act and commitment to that action was linked to the condition of the heart. Is your heart in it?

Have you ever felt a “sinking feeling” in your chest on the occasion of feeling ashamed or embarrassed? I suppose this is what is meant when the writer says, “our heart condemns us.”

If I was brave, which I am not, I would share with you several examples where I felt this sinking feeling. You will have to provide your own examples from your own life’s experiences. Two insights are gained from the passage we cite. One is that our hearts (this sinking feeling) is not a sure indicator. Second, we can experience the opposite of this shame, which is confidence, by believing in Jesus and loving one another.

Today, do you require a restoration of confidence? If so, visit your hearts, honestly seek the Lord in prayer and confess the Gospel anew. “Lord, I know you love me and that you have provided mercy for all my sins through the perfect and complete work of your Son on my behalf. Lord I do desire to love those you have placed in my life. Restore to me the joy of my salvation.”

Confidence in the natural world is self-reliance, in the spiritual world it is God-reliance. Oswald Chambers (1874–1917

God wants us to be victors, not victims; to grow, not grovel; to soar, not sink; to overcome, not to be overwhelmed. William Arthur Ward (1812–1882)

 

If your security is based on something that can be taken away from you—you will constantly be on a false edge of security. Tim Hansel

Our confidence in Christ does not make us lazy, negligent, or careless, but, on the contrary, it awakens us, urges us on, and makes us active in living righteous lives and doing good. There is no self-confidence to compare with this. Ulrich Zwingli (1484–1531)