This passage speaks to the idea that love must be shown through actions and truth, rather than mere words or speech. It also suggests that true believers can find peace and reassurance in their faith, even when their hearts may condemn them.
The first sentence of the passage, "My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth," reminds us that love is more than just a feeling or a word. Love must be shown through actions and truth, through the way we treat others and the choices we make in our lives. Words and speech alone are not enough to demonstrate true love.
The next sentence, "this we know that we are of the truth," suggests that living a life of love through actions and truth is a sign of true faith and belief in God. By demonstrating love in this way, we align ourselves with God's teachings and values, and we show that we truly belong to the truth of his word.
The following sentence, "persuade our hearts before him," suggests that living a life of love through actions and truth can bring us a sense of peace and contentment in our faith. When we know that we are living in accordance with God's will, we can find comfort and reassurance in his presence.
The final sentence of the passage, "if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things," offers a message of hope and reassurance to believers who may struggle with feelings of guilt or shame. The idea here is that even when our hearts may condemn us, God is greater than our feelings and he knows everything. This means that we can trust in God's love and forgiveness, and we can find peace and comfort in knowing that he is always with us.
Overall, this passage suggests that true love is demonstrated through actions and truth, rather than mere words or speech. It also reminds us that living a life of love and faith can bring us a sense of peace and contentment, even when we may struggle with feelings of guilt or shame. By trusting in God's love and forgiveness, we can find reassurance and hope in our faith, knowing that he is always with us and that he knows everything.
1 John 3:18-21. My little children, let’s not love in word only, or with the tongue only, but in deed and truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and persuade our hearts before him, because if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. Beloved, if our hearts don’t condemn us, we have boldness toward God.