Thursday I had the opportunity to share this devotion with ladies at my church. This is a look at accusation, evidence, and what happens when our hearts take something that may be true and turn it into a verdict about our character.
Several ladies asked if I would share my recording, so I’m sharing it here today along with the handout from the session.
I hope it will encourage your heart.
OVERTURNED: The Verdict of Grace
For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. — 1 John 3:20
THE LOWER COURT — Examine the Evidence
What is the difference between conviction and accusation?
Revelation 12:10 — Satan is called “the accuser of our brethren.”
THE HIGHER COURT — What Does God Actually Say?
Psalm 103:8 — He is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.”
Psalm 103:10 — “He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.”
Psalm 103:13–14 — “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him. For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.”
1 John 2:1 — “…we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.”
Proverbs 18:13 — “He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
When my heart condemns me…
1. What actually happened?Separate the facts from my interpretation.
2. What did I make it mean?What story have I attached to the facts? What verdict have I rendered about myself?
3. What is actually true?Do I have evidence for my conclusion? Is there something I need to confess or change?What has God said?
4. What will I do with the truth?Confess? Make something right? Learn from a mistake? Reject an accusation? Depend more fully upon Christ?
BRING IT INTO CAPTIVITY
Philippians 4:8 —“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true…think on these things.”
2 Corinthians 10:5 — “…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 —“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
TRUTHS TO REMEMBER
* The evidence may be true. The verdict may not be.
* Grace does not deny the evidence. Grace keeps the evidence from becoming a verdict God never rendered.
* The One who knows everything about me is also merciful and gracious toward me.
* My weakness should lead me to dependence upon Christ, not despair.
Know someone who might need this reminder?
Want to keep in touch? Light in the Margins is where I collect thoughts about faith, grace, and the truths God keeps teaching me in ordinary life. If you’d like to read along, you can subscribe here:
