I John 3:16-24
But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth. (vv. 17-18) I think I’ve mentioned before that St. Francis of Assisi is credited with the proverb “Preach the gospel, and if necessary use words.” I think this is what John is saying also in these two verses. These verses also take us back to James’ epistle (James 2:14-17).
… for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and He knows everything. (v. 20) Credit to my Study Bible for opening this verse for me. In their interpretation, essentially we are condemning ourselves for too many little things, what they refer to as “an oversensitive conscience”. But God’s love for us is greater than our self-condemnation; with that we can rest more easily! A nice thought to bless my day!
Slava Bohu!