1 John 3:16-24 (NRSV)
Read 1 John 3:16-24 on biblegateway.com
Verse 16We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us-and we ought to lay down our lives for one another. Verse 17How does God's love abide in anyone who has the world's goods and sees a brother or sister in need and yet refuses help? Verse 18Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action. Verse 19And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
Verse 20whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Verse 21Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God; Verse 22and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
Verse 23And 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. Verse 24All who obey his commandments abide in him, and he abides in them. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit that he has given us.
Devotion
Even though I am familiar with this passage of scripture, somehow this is the first time I really noticed the phrase, "God is greater than our hearts" (Verse 20). I'm sure we are all familiar with the counsel that when we are facing big decisions or feeling conflicted, we should "listen to our hearts." While this is not terrible advice, our human hearts are often deceived by our brokenness, imperfections, failures or guilt. Our hearts can lead us astray. The reading for today invites us into a deeper way of thinking about and responding to the relationships, words and actions in our lives. God is greater than our hearts. God still loves us and commands us to love one another not just in word and speech, but in truth and action. We have been given the perfect example of this divine, action-oriented love in Jesus and his sacrifice for us on the cross. We are called to follow Jesus, trusting that God is greater than even our imperfections and fears.
Prayer
Expansive God, when we face difficulties and fears of failure, turn our hearts again toward the cross of Christ. May we feel your forgiving love calling us into deeper lives of service for the people and the world you love. Amen.