The proverbs are proverbial.  “Actions speak louder than words!”  “If you talk the talk, walk the walk.” “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”  It is fair to recognize that words can be hollow, empty boasts, promises or threats and to believe that all that what matters most are our actions.  After all does the Proverb not declare, “Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love, but a faithful man who can find?”

But are our actions as loud as we declare them to be?  After all how many of us struggle with “imposter syndrome?” That feeling that despite a solid record of accomplishment or faithfulness, the next semester, the next job, the next stage of life, the next conversation will prove that we are not what we seem.  Not who others thought we were?  Not what we thought we were?

Our actions are important.  Our walk is what makes our talk real.  But assurance needs to be declared as much as displayed.   While our lives can bear the fruit of confident assurance through our orthodoxy and orthopraxy, we also need those who love us, shepherd us, and observe our lives to declare assurance to us.  When the deeds are done, we still need words.  We need to hear the assurance of pardon after the confession of sin, we need to hear the benediction, we need to hear the assuring words of faithful Christian friends declaring the reality of our faith.

The enemy of our soul is only too glad to pick apart our walk in Christ, to micro-analyze our motives, our actions, our sins, our failings, and our doubts   To magnify our sin and marginalize our sanctification, accuse us of being imposters.   And in those moments, we are unable to draw assurance from our orthodoxy or orthopraxy.  We need someone to speak those words that are worth a thousand pictures.

The enemy attacked the early churches of Asia Minor by stirring up deceivers and anti-Christs who denied the basic truths of the Christian faith and brought fear, uncertainty and division to the believers there.  As a faithful father in the faith to these churches, the Apostle John writes to them to call out these false teachers, refute their errors and comfort the faithful. 

He gently points them back to the person and work of Christ, to the sanctifying, transformative work of the gospel in their lives, and their love for one another as metrics for authentic faith and fellowship.  But he knows that more is needed than metrics.  They need the assurance that comes when their spiritual father declares in words the reality of their own faith.  The Proverb says, “a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.”   And in 1 John 2:12-14 the Apostle interrupts the flow of his epistle to give his beloved spiritual children a much-needed fitly spoken words of blessing and assurance.

Join us as we examine 1 John 2:12-14 and consider the importance of pastoral care and encouragement in providing assurance of our faith.  We meet on the square in Pottsville, right next to historic Potts’ Inn at 10:30 am for worship.  Get directions here or contact us for more info.  Or join our livestream on YouTube.