The God Pause Daily Devotional of The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 2018 - 1 John 3:16-24

The God Pause Daily Devotional of The Luther Seminary in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States for Wednesday, 18 April 2018 - 1 John 3:16-24
1 John 3:

16 The way that we have come to know love is through his having laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers! 17 If someone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how can he be loving God? 18 Children, let us love not with words and talk, but with actions and in reality!

19 Here is how we will know that we are from the truth and will set our hearts at rest in his presence: 20 if our hearts know something against us, God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. 21 Dear friends, if our hearts know nothing against us, we have confidence in approaching God; 22 then, whatever we ask for, we receive from him; because we are obeying his commands and doing the things that please him.

23 This is his command: that we are to trust in the person and power of his Son Yeshua the Messiah and to keep loving one another, just as he commanded us. 24 Those who obey his commands remain united with him and he with them.

Here is how we know that he remains united with us: by the Spirit whom he gave us.

(Complete Jewish Bible).

***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.
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.
Sarah Sumner-Eisenbraun, '07
Pastor, St. Andrew's Lutheran Church, San Diego, Calif.
1 John 3:16 We know love by this, that he laid down his life for us--and we ought to lay down our lives for one another.
17 How 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?
18 Little children, let us love, not in word or speech, but in truth and action.
19 And by this we will know that we are from the truth and will reassure our hearts before him
20 whenever our hearts condemn us; for God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have boldness before God;
22 and we receive from him whatever we ask, because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And 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.
24 All 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. (New Revised Standard Version)

The Luther Seminary

2481 Como Avenue

Saint Paul, Minnesota 55108, United States

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