18 Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. 19 We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him 20 in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. (1 John 3:18–20)
There’s a popular saying, “put your money where your mouth is,” to show that you’re serious and all in. You can say to your wife over and over again that you love her, but what she’ll really “hear” are acts of love from the heart. We may talk a big “spiritual game,” but not put any shoe leather to it, and thus, fail to “impress” God and ultimately those we need to reach.
God’s more interested in the affairs of the heart, that is, what’s springing up in our lives that He has generated, that has ushered forth unabated without malice of forethought. We’re here for a purpose, to show Christ’s love by our deeds, our reactions, our attitudes, and our timely thoughtful words. There’s something mysteriously compelling about a true child of God, and it emanates from the heart. It’s unexplainable and inscrutable but by obedience to a higher power, a Heavenly Father. The end result is the assurance of our faith. These out-of-body experiences will “assure our heart before him.” We’ll no longer stand condemned by what other people say, or worse, our second thoughts. The right thing to do is to answer only to the Lord.
Revelation 2:23 says rather sternly, “And all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.” (Revelation 2:23)
I know this verse takes us out of the mindset of “Come to me, all you who are weak and heavy laden and I will give you rest,” (Matthew 11:28-30) but much of what we might do comes, not from love, but out of a healthy fear of God. This is why we are quick to clear our accounts and confess our “sins” to Him and others, and to not take credit for that which we did not do, that which we did out of compulsion to be obedient to God.
In the end, we must please only God. Therefore, let all that is done meet this objective: to “do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22)
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