The Confident Heart

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

1 John 3:21

What John describes here is the normal experience of a Christian believer.

Our hearts do not condemn us
“If our heart does not condemn us...” (3:21). There is no better life than to know that you are forgiven, that God is for you, and that whatever happens, you are only a short distance from your eternal home, where you will see God’s face, your tears will be wiped away, and you will rejoice in God’s glorious presence.

We have confidence before God
“...we have confidence before God” (3:21). What an amazing statement! God will destroy the wicked, but the normal experience of the Christian life is to know that it is well with your soul and so to have peace with God and confidence before Him.

God answers our prayers
“And whatever we ask we receive from him...” (3:22). As you believe God, love God, and obey God, the things that you ask of Him will be aligned with His will. And when the things you ask for are aligned with His will, you will receive what you ask for.

We live according to God’s commands
“...because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (3:22). John keeps coming back to the life God has called us to live, believing, loving, and obeying God’s commandments. And here he reminds us again that as we pursue this life, assurance will grow and peace will prevail.

Here is a marvellous description of the normal Christian life. Pursue this life to which God has called you, and these blessings will be yours. Your heart will not condemn you. You will have confidence before God, and God will answer your prayers.

Which of these four blessings of the Christian life did you most need to be reminded of today?