Confidence

11 Jun

1 John 3:19-24

Purpose

: Times of doubt will come, our confidence is based not on our memory but God’s faithfulness.

Introduction

Today is Valentine’s Day. It is the day of sweethearts. It is the day to express your love to someone. This day is special for many. For many it is a day to express your love unlike any other day of the year. Expectations can be high for this day. Feelings can be expressed and feelings can be hurt if expectations aren’t met. So with great fear and trepidation I admit that I am a Scrooge when it comes to Valentine’s Day. I believe it is a Hallmark conspiracy to get the public spending money again after Christmas. I refuse to allow culture to tell me how I am supposed to express love to someone.

Someone may think that I am just being overly dramatic about such. Not at all. I’m not like the man who takes his wife to the card shop; let’s her pick out a card that she likes; and tells her that expresses his sentiment and walks away without purchasing the card. My thinking is far more pragmatic. If I demonstrate a lack of love throughout the year, do you think one day each year makes up for it? Is my wife going to be fooled by a bunch of flowers that my irresponsible and unloving behavior was just a ruse? Do I think she is that stupid? On the other side of the coin, is the person who says that I do express my love each day and I want to give greater expression to that love today. Good for you. May you celebrate many more Valentine’s Days.

I say all of this tongue in cheek. Romance may not be your greatest gift. You may be like the man at the marriage seminar who when told by the speaker that it was imperative to know his wife’s favorite flower in order to surprise her from time to time, leaned near his wife’s ear and whispered “It’s Pillsbury.” Or like the counselor who grew frustrated trying to explain romance to the very unromantic husband that the counselor broke ethical guidelines by walking up to the wife, hugged and kissed her passionately and afterwards told the man “Your wife needs that about 2 times each week.” The husband looked at the therapist and said sheepishly, “Ok. I’ll bring her here every Tuesday and Thursday.” Part of the importance of Valentine’s Day perhaps is to reassure that special someone that you are thinking of them.

Spiritually speaking – aren’t you glad God expresses his love daily rather than once a year? In our text, John is going to reassure us about God’s love when we are uncertain. When we at times question our commitment to God, God reassures us that we belong to him. And we must listen to God’s reassurance more than our doubt. Let’s revel in God’s love today and find assurance that we belong to him.
The Text
John completes his previous thought and lays the groundwork for the thoughts to come. John says one can know if they belong to God or to the Evil One – watch how they express love. To love means to sacrifice for another. Specifically, John makes his point by pointing to Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and applies that example to meeting the physical needs of another. We should be emotionally touched by the unmet needs of food, clothes, and basic shelter by others. In fact, we sacrifice so that another can have these basic needs met. Such a sacrifice demonstrates real love.
Verse 18 says that love isn’t just with words but with actions. This then is how according to verse 19 we can know we belong to the truth. And knowing that we are in the truth we can relax. What John does in verses 19-20 is deal with an issue of the future. The time comes when we question if we are living in God’s will. John says we need to look at how we are demonstrating love. It is a reflection of the sacrifice of Jesus? Then rest in God’s presence. Don’t allow your doubt to have the final word. For every person, doubts come. No one loves perfectly. Our imperfect love is generated by motives wanting to honor God. This is John’s point. God is greater than our hearts. He knows our ultimate motives and knowing that he accepts our imperfect love.
John continues that with hearts at rest our confidence increases. We are so confident that we know whatever we ask God for he will give to us. John qualifies this asking in verse 22. Our motives in asking are not selfish but based upon the desire to please God. He is the center of our being. We only want to do what pleases him.
Verse 23 serves as a summation. To truly declare that you love one begins with trusting in the name of Jesus. The word “believe” carries the idea of trust which is revealed in action. To do as God wants means that we trust the name of Jesus. John writes to those who do trust, but there are those who no longer trust in Jesus’ name. They do not believe him to be the Messiah. Thus, they are not following the command of God. To follow God’s command requires both trust and love.
Such trust and love means fellowship exists. While John doesn’t use that specific word the idea is present. God lives within the person who trusts and loves and that person lives in God. In fact, we can know that God is living in us by the presence of the Spirit. Verse 24 serves to initiate the next thought found in 4:1-6 as John discusses what the Spirit’s presence means. But one thing the Spirit does is reassurance us of God’s presence.
Application
I want to make only one point from this text and it is this – Doubts will come but God is greater than our doubts. There are different types of doubt. Doubt about scripture; doubt about Jesus; doubt about salvation. Doubt comes to everyone at some point. Imperfection does not breed confidence. We know too much about ourselves. We know our weaknesses better than any other if we are willing to pay attention. We know on our best days we still struggle to get it right. And it is difficult at best to be confident before God.

Only you and God can know your motives. You can pretend; you can look good to others; only you know what is inside of you. The murderer always has the next door neighbor who says “I can’t believe he did it; he was such a nice person.” You can do all the right things; say all the right things; and fool people. But in your quiet times; in your times when no one else is around – you know who you are.

I am not talking to those who are working hard to fool us and has no desire to change. I am talking to those who really want to honor God and know that the imperfection is ever near. Our imperfection drives us to despair. We condemn ourselves. But here is the truth – God is greater than our hearts. He knows everything – our motives, our desires, our wishes, the secrets, and our imperfection. And knowing it all he says to us “Rest.” “Relax.” “Shhhh – quiet your heart and listen to me – my Spirit lives within you.”

Did you not supply something for the needs of another?

Did you not help your neighbor during a very difficult time?

Did you not bring food for the poor? Coats?

Are you not trying to please me?

Are you wanting to be unselfish in all your ways?

Listen to Father. Hear his words of reassurance. Paul says in Romans 8:16, that God’s Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

After Lincoln’s assassination, his pockets were emptied. Among the items were two pair of glasses, a pocketknife, a watch fob, and a wallet. Inside the wallet was a Confederate $5 (very odd) and 9 newspaper clippings. All the clippings were positive in how they described Lincoln. Why? Lincoln was hated by both political parties during his tenure as President. He tried to unite a divided country. Some thought he was too easy on the Confederates. The Confederates saw him as disrupting their way of life. While winning the popular vote, few believed in him. It is believed that Lincoln was filled with doubt throughout his presidency even to the point of suffering depression. Why the positive articles? Because he had to hear something that reassured him. In the same way, God wants to reassure us. May we hear his Spirit.

 

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