“For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.” – 1 John 3:20

Scripture reading: 1 John 3:19-23; John 21:15-19

If you have been regularly following this month’s devotionals you know that John has laid before us many ‘tests’ to determine whether or not we truly have fellowship with God.  John sets the standard high as he encourages us to walk faithfully as Jesus walked.  In light of these pronouncements, we can sometimes become discouraged as we compare ourselves to this example.  Our human hearts often have the tendency to become focused on our sin and so, become discouraged.  John pauses here to make sure that our eyes of faith are where they need to be.  He tells us in verse 23, “and this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another.”  A good conscience before God does not come when we focus on ourselves, but when we look to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith.

Peter is a wonderful example of this principle.  After Peter had denied the Lord three times you can imagine that his heart was struggling.  In response to his denial, Jesus forces Peter back to the issues of love for Him and love for His people.  Peter is finally left with laying his heart before the omniscient God in his statement, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  In our struggles, we come back to the essentials of the faith.  Ask yourself, “Do I love the Lord Jesus Christ?”  Then take that heart to the Lord.

Suggestions for prayer

Express your love for the Lord and for His people as you pray to Him.  Ask Him to grant you a confidence of soul as you look to Jesus as your only hope in this life and in the next.

Rev. Brian Murray is the associate pastor at Grace ARP Church and the Director of Gillespie Academy in Woodstock, Ontario. He has been ordained in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church since 2003 and he and his wife Melissa have four children. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.