"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 can reassure our hearts before him; whenever our hearts condemns us, God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything. Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and whatever we ask, we receive from him because we keep His commandments and do what pleases him.” – 1 John 3:19-22 ESV
When we love in deed, we are not only blessing those whom our deeds are extended to, but we’re supplying our hearts the confidence needed to go before God. The Lord knows that our hearts will condemn us because we are with ourselves 24-7. We know when we’ve behaved poorly, when we’ve done something for selfish gain, and when we’ve hidden evil in our hearts toward others. We know it all, for we cannot escape ourselves. Others may not see our poor judgment outwardly, but we see and hear our own hearts.
Because we are so conscious of our own internal motives and hidden deeds that others may not see, our hearts continuously bring those things to our attention, causing us to feel unworthy to approach God with confidence. Yet, it's confidence that we need before God, if we want to receive whatever we ask for in prayers.
THE MESSAGE translation says it like this, “My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.”
Even if we do good deeds, some of us know that our hearts will still find things to “accuse and condemn” us for. My heart seems to be a pro at that! It’s a trick of the enemy to keep us feeling lowly and undeserving of God’s goodness. Plus, some days are just bad days, and we act as fools. It’s the truth! Some days our flesh wins, and our spirit-man starves. What are we to do then? Not pray? Kick ourselves out of the game, and sit on the side lines? NO WAY! We have to remember from whom our righteousness comes!
I remember a dream I had many years ago. I had just been told, by someone I respected, that I wasn’t good enough, and the dream I had later soothed my soul and changed the direction I was headed in. In the dream, two of the homosexual men I was ministering to in that season, began manifesting demons. They began shouting and screaming at me in such chaos. In the dream, I shrunk back in fear because I kept hearing what that person told me about not being good enough. My heart kept saying, “You’re not worthy”, “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough”, “You have too many issues to help anyone”, and on and on with all sorts of lies to make me feel less than God’s best. Then, finally, the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I stood up and said to the demons, “GO! In Jesus' name! Not because of who I am! BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!”, and the dream ended.
This brings me to my next point. Our righteousness comes from Jesus, not by our works. While our deeds may silence our “accusing and condemning” hearts, our ultimate peace should come in knowing WHO HE IS in us. For, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”
Now, when I pray and my heart begins to whisper lies about my “righteousness”, I simply say, “Not because of who I am, BUT because of who YOU ARE. You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord, my Righteousness. I’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You said if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
So "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth", as a blessing to others, ourselves, and to God. But let us not forget that if our “accusing and condemning” hearts are not silenced by that alone, that Jesus is our source of righteousness. He died so we can live. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It’s because of HIM.
When we love in deed, we are not only blessing those whom our deeds are extended to, but we’re supplying our hearts the confidence needed to go before God. The Lord knows that our hearts will condemn us because we are with ourselves 24-7. We know when we’ve behaved poorly, when we’ve done something for selfish gain, and when we’ve hidden evil in our hearts toward others. We know it all, for we cannot escape ourselves. Others may not see our poor judgment outwardly, but we see and hear our own hearts.
Because we are so conscious of our own internal motives and hidden deeds that others may not see, our hearts continuously bring those things to our attention, causing us to feel unworthy to approach God with confidence. Yet, it's confidence that we need before God, if we want to receive whatever we ask for in prayers.
THE MESSAGE translation says it like this, “My dear children, let's not just talk about love; let's practice real love. This is the only way we'll know we're living truly, living in God's reality. It's also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves. And friends, once that's taken care of, and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him.”
Even if we do good deeds, some of us know that our hearts will still find things to “accuse and condemn” us for. My heart seems to be a pro at that! It’s a trick of the enemy to keep us feeling lowly and undeserving of God’s goodness. Plus, some days are just bad days, and we act as fools. It’s the truth! Some days our flesh wins, and our spirit-man starves. What are we to do then? Not pray? Kick ourselves out of the game, and sit on the side lines? NO WAY! We have to remember from whom our righteousness comes!
I remember a dream I had many years ago. I had just been told, by someone I respected, that I wasn’t good enough, and the dream I had later soothed my soul and changed the direction I was headed in. In the dream, two of the homosexual men I was ministering to in that season, began manifesting demons. They began shouting and screaming at me in such chaos. In the dream, I shrunk back in fear because I kept hearing what that person told me about not being good enough. My heart kept saying, “You’re not worthy”, “You can’t do this”, “You’re not good enough”, “You have too many issues to help anyone”, and on and on with all sorts of lies to make me feel less than God’s best. Then, finally, the Holy Spirit rose up within me, and I stood up and said to the demons, “GO! In Jesus' name! Not because of who I am! BUT BECAUSE OF WHO HE IS!!”, and the dream ended.
This brings me to my next point. Our righteousness comes from Jesus, not by our works. While our deeds may silence our “accusing and condemning” hearts, our ultimate peace should come in knowing WHO HE IS in us. For, “God is greater than our hearts, and He knows everything.”
Now, when I pray and my heart begins to whisper lies about my “righteousness”, I simply say, “Not because of who I am, BUT because of who YOU ARE. You are Jehovah-Tsidkenu – The Lord, my Righteousness. I’ve been bought with a price (1 Corinthians 6:20). You said if I confess my sins, you are faithful and just and will forgive my sins and purify me from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9). I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:21).”
So "let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth", as a blessing to others, ourselves, and to God. But let us not forget that if our “accusing and condemning” hearts are not silenced by that alone, that Jesus is our source of righteousness. He died so we can live. God made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
It’s because of HIM.
He is greater than our hearts!
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