Read: I John 3:18-20
Let us… love.., in deed and in truth. And hereby we… shall assure our hearts before him (I John 3:18-19).
Do We Love?
In hours of uncertainty we dare not judge our state of grace in the light of tempting thoughts or impulsive emotions. We need some sound tests by which we may “assure our hearts before him.”
Sincere love is the reassuring test proposed in this passage from I John. This was also Wesley’s position. “What is Christian perfection?” Wesley answers his own question thus: “Loving God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. This implies that no wrong temper, none contrary to love, remains in the soul; and that all the thoughts, words and actions are governed by pure love.”
When I harbor no spirit contrary to love, my spirit resembles the Holy Spirit, and I am a sanctified Christian. Who would quarrel with such an experience or who would question such a test? If I find an unloving and unlovely spirit, I surely want God to do something more for me. If God has given me a real spirit of love, I may be humbly grateful for such a blessing.
This evidence is something that is clearly given to us in consciousness. If we are honest with ourselves, we need have no uncertainty concerning the purity of our motives and the sincerity of our love. If as we examine our hearts we find sincere and full love to God, and if we find there only Christian love for all men, “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith… Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering” (Hebrews 10:22-23).
Affirmation For Today
The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us (Romans 5:5).