Tuesday, April 24, 2018
1 John 3:18-20 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him. For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.
CONFIDENCE IN OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH-LIFE, OR ... DEALING WITH DEPRESSION
Not long ago one of our pastors asked for a list of Bible passages to help people deal with depression. Many passages were recommended, including these words from the psalm: "Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God…" (Psalm 42:11).
In our text, John, the apostle of love, addresses a believer's sometime lack of confidence and wavering faith. Even while worshipping in church, after confessing one's sins, repenting, and receiving assurance of forgiveness, a Christian's heart or conscience may try to condemn him. For example, Satan might subtly suggest one is being hypocritical.
Yet, remember "…God is love." He demonstrated that love in that "He sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him" (1 John 4:8-9). Then, in turn, believers want to show love toward God and one another as a fruit of Spirit-given faith -- a fruit whereby we "assure our hearts before" our Savior-God.
Just before our text the apostle of love writes: "By this we know love, because he laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren…" (1 John 3:18). Practicing love "in deed and in truth"--parents tending to children's needs, husband or wife to one another's needs, being a Good Samaritan toward one's neighbor -- is testimony to the Christian's heart that he or she is indeed a child of God.
Savior, Thy dying love Thou gavest me;
Nor should I aught withhold, Dear Lord, from Thee.
In love my soul would bow, My heart fulfill its vow.
Some off’ring bring Thee now, Something for Thee.
Give me a faithful heart, Likeness to Thee,
That each departing day Henceforth may see
Some work of love begun, Some deed of kindness done,
Some wand'rer sought and won, Something for Thee.
(The Lutheran Hymnal, 403:1, 3)
