A constant struggle wages in my mind and heart more often than I'd like to admit. Often my heart condemns me and I am beaten down by lies from myself. This morning as I woke it was no different. I was given the preceding verse and find it's placement in Scripture interesting and comforting as well as motivating and challenging. Why does a verse about self condemnation fit into a chapter and a book about love of the Father and love for our brothers?
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." 1 John 3:1
I am a child of God. What amazing love! Can there be anything to take that away? Not a chance! What an advocate! If God is for us what or who can stand against us? Not even ourselves. (Romans 8:31-39).
Starting in 1 John 3:11 brotherly love shines through as an obvious sign that we have God's love in our heart.
"We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers." 1 John 3:14
We know love because Christ laid down His life for us.
"By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" 1 John 3: 16,17
This love in action, a proactive love for our brothers pushes us through when our hearts condemn us. Turning our eyes and our hearts outward and away from the lies of guilt and shame, loving our brothers comes from a love far greater than ourselves and yet springs from His Holy Spirit residing in ourselves. How great an honor to give Christ's love to others, to walk side by side with our Abba Father in giving this love! The act of God turning our eyes from self pity to brotherly love proves God is at work in us. It shuts up the voices of self-condemnation and shows us how much bigger God's work in our hearts is in comparison to our own guilt and shame.
"Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything." 1 John 3:18,20
My heart condemns me daily. I feel bad and down daily. I'm relying on God to work His Spirit and remind me daily of His love and grace to me. I'm trusting Him to propel me beyond myself that I can see the needs of others and share this same love and grace given to me. Love that fills my heart and silences the voices of guilt and shame replacing them with songs of joy and deliverance. I pray that I can remember this passage and cling to it being enabled to love in action and in truth relying on the grace and mercy of God my Father.
2 comments:
Wow. Those are great passages. Thanks for sharing, its something we all battle with.
This passage, such an anchor for my soul. Love this--love for our brothers pushes us through when our hearts condemn us. My pain redeemed when I'm open to ministering to others. So glad I stopped by today from Ann's. Blessings.
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