1 John 3:21-22

Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.

John now shows what happens when the heart is at rest before God. When the heart is no longer condemning us, something beautiful takes place. We find ourselves approaching God with confidence. Prayer becomes natural. Conversation with the Lord becomes free instead of hesitant.

Confidence toward God grows out of a life that desires to do what pleases Him.

But that raises a natural question. What exactly pleases the Lord?

For the Jewish people, the answer seemed overwhelming. The Old Testament law contained six hundred thirteen commandments. Three hundred sixty five were prohibitions and two hundred forty eight were positive instructions. That was a tremendous weight to carry.

So David summarized the idea in Psalm 15, asking who could dwell with the Lord.

LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.
He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.
In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD.
He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.
He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent.
He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

David reduced the matter to a manageable list describing a life marked by integrity, honesty, and respect for others.

Then Micah 6:8 brought the requirement down even further.

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Justice, mercy, and humility before God. Three simple expressions of a heart aligned with Him.

But Jesus simplified it even more. In Matthew 22:37-40, He said,

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

In other words, everything God desires from us ultimately comes back to love. Love for God and love for people.

That takes us right back to what John has been saying all along. We walk in freedom when we love the Lord and when we love His people. Not merely in speech or religious language, but in real action, in deed and in truth as John already said in 1 John 3:18.

This kind of life gives the heart assurance.

When I fall short of my own expectations, my heart tends to turn against me. I can start thinking, I am such a failure, why should I even bother asking God for anything? That is the voice of condemnation speaking.

But when the heart is quiet before the Lord, when I am walking in love toward Him and toward others, I discover something remarkable. Prayer becomes open again. I feel a freedom in approaching God.

The truth is that from God’s side, that freedom is always there. He never closes the door. But I only experience it fully when the accusations in my own heart grow quiet.

Then confidence returns.

Then prayer flows again.

Then the heart remembers that it is welcome in the presence of God.