Assurance of Being God’s child

The first thing I read after opening my online Bible was, ‘How can I know I’m a Christian?” My first thought was, “If you don’t know, you likely aren’t.”

Most people know what they believe. Yes, there are worry warts, and Satan lies to us with whispered thoughts such as, “Look what you did. How can you be a Christian?” And others will point to our weaknesses with the same question, but God says this:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:13)
But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, (John 1:12)

The Word of God says it. Those who know what it says either believe it or not. However, if a Christian is not reading the Word, assurance will likely go missing. This indicates a better question could be, “If I am a Christian, why am I not reading this book from God?”

He does tell His people to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrews 10:22) This indicates another question: Am I convinced of sin and confessing those things that bother my conscience? If not, then true faith could be missing.

Being a Christian involves putting my faith in Jesus Christ. What then is faith? God says:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is that inner ‘I just know’ that this Word of God is true. I was not at Calvary, but I know that Jesus died. I did not see the empty tomb, but I just know that it is empty and that Jesus is alive. I also have assurance, based on the promises of God, that Jesus died for my sin and all are forgiven. It is an inner thing, not based on present performance or the swarm of doubts that come when the God who is good allows me to suffer. It is based on what Jesus did, not what I do.

Perhaps that is the biggest test: what do I base ‘being a Christian’ on? What I do, or what God has done?

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Am I His workmanship (verse 10) or am I looking at my lack of works and thinking I am not good enough? No one is ‘good enough’ otherwise Jesus would not have needed to die.

One more question: “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.” (Hebrews 2:14–15) If that fear of death is overwhelming, it may be that way because there is no assurance that Jesus conquered it.

And that assurance is not an outward thing but comes from the Holy Spirit. If He lives in me, He tells me who I am:

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. (Romans 8:15–17)

Personal sin, Satan’s lies, and suffering can take eyes and hearts off what God has done and rob His children of their assurance of being His children, but the salvation of God is more powerful than all three of those negative S’s. If the human  heart is not responding to His Spirit, then it is vital to get down on those knees and talk to the Lord.

PRAY: Jesus, I’ve no idea how many are duped into thinking they are believers but are not, or how many are believers but without assurance. You know how to right all errors and bring doubters to the truth. Today I pray for those whose assurance or lack of it is messing with their minds. May they hear and know truth and be set free from crippling doubts.

Update: Our granddaughter is home. She is cheerful and clear-headed, but looks like a train hit her. Black eyes, bruises all over, a smashed foot, broken arm and broken kneecap that looks terrible, but she is joyful and thankful to be alive, spared, and in many prayers.

In a joyful place…

Yesterday brought great joy. Someone needed a sewing machine. God led me to ask a friend who had the very make and model he needed. We delivered it. Another person asked for prayer about a job interview. God gave him the job almost on the spot. The joy of seeing answers to prayer is faith-building. Often prayers that seem to be unanswered need a boost so these helped  me remember that “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)

Actually, what we can see may not be a true reality. Someone told me of cult members and atheists who are “such nice people” yet God describes them differently: 

The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the Lord? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the Lord is his refuge. (Psalm 14:1–6)

How easily sight can override faith or make the Word of the Lord seem false. Yet even answers to prayer for sewing machines and job interviews verify the declaration of the psalmist:

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. (Psalm 17:6)

Answered prayer is special because it encourages me during the times I cannot see what God is doing. Now and then, He reveals Himself dramatically. This psalm is how David experienced faith becoming visible:

In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The Lord also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O Lord, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my support. (Psalm 18:6–18)

The rest of this psalm reminded me again the importance of keeping short accounts with God and being obedient. David claimed that God rescued him because He delighted in him according to the cleanness of his hands. Can I claim that? If not, my spiritual well-being takes priority over answering my prayers. It isn’t that obedience earns answers but that God wants those who ‘play His music’ to be in tune with His will so our prayers fit with what He intends to do.

I had no idea where to find a Juki 9010 nor did I know anything about the job offer, but God pointed me to a friend who had that machine and wanted him to have it. He prompted me to  pray that if this was the right job, my friend would be hired. Being in a “prayer-place” is not about me, but about Jesus Christ and how He has changes lives. As David said…

For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. (Psalm 18:31–36)

PRAY: You, Jesus, are my rock and You show me how to pray and teach me what to say. Without You, I would not be able to claim righteousness nor know the words to say when asked to pray. You are also my rock and my God. 

God says keep going…

 

When looking at my quilts or talking to a non-quilter at a show, I often hear, “I don’t have the patience to quilt.” I sometimes think, “How then will you get patience?” But I don’t say it. God tells me how to grow in patience, but most of us don’t like His method.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

What does it mean to be patient? The Bible uses patience, perseverance, endurance, and steadfastness to describe God. He patiently withholds judgment for a time and allows for repentance and salvation He uses this to define people who are reliable, faithful, and true to the end. Jesus was steadfast. 

Trials produce this quality using these English words to describe the ability to trust God no matter the situation. In other words, patience is not about a quality needed to produce a desired result. It is about the quality needed to wait on God for the desired result — and God does not stitch up my quilts.

I’ve given much thought to this idea of needing patience even to create something. Would the word “motivation” be more suitable? And to go deeper, would “love” be better? In the context of raising children, a parent needs patience to keep teaching them. Love desires that they become responsible, well-behaved adults. As for quilt-making, motivation can vary. For me, it is the desire to show the recipient that they are loved. I’m also created in the image of God so creating something useful and hopefully beautiful is part of who I am. Yes, it is often hard work and perseverance must replace procrastination, yet patience isn’t the biggest issue.

Actually, the alternative to patience is: “I want it now” and that statement tells me that I’m not mature — since maturity is often defined as the ability to wait for delayed gratification. Applied to quilting or anything else, it is the attitude of wanting something without having to do anything or without needing to wait for it. Interesting that the NT adds this as an addition to faith and part of my spiritual growth. I noticed that it follows another important word:

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1:5–8)

Self-control means selfish desires under control or selfishness yielded to the Lord, and a careful read shows this is part of becoming more like Jesus and better able to persevere or keep on. A person of faith shows lack of trust in God’s timing by always ‘wanting it now’ instead of being patient with God.

That said, making quilts for me can be a patient-developer only if I’ve lost my original motivation to show God’s love to people. Then it is just another chore on my to-do list. Instead of that happening, perseverance and all that is required in the process helps me realize that if my list is just  ‘more chores’ motivated by duty instead of love.. Even housework or grocery shopping can be done out of love for others. Changing the motivation for why I do them makes a huge difference in my attitude while I do them. 

Impatiently wanting anything ‘done and over with’ is a faith matter too. I am not trusting God when I get upset with not seeing the results of what I have asked Him to do:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Quilt making has helped me keep my eyes on the promise (the finished project) even when it is unseen. I don’t need to have the end result in my hands to keep going, just as I am learning that I don’t need to see the resolution or answer to all my prayers instead of keeping my focus on God’s promises. If anyone tells me they do not have the patience to quilt, maybe this could be an opportunity to ask about motivations for why we do anything?

PRAY: Jesus, patience is a big topic. You are a big God, otherwise I’d never keep going without the desires You grant me to do things, to meet needs and show Your love to others. May You persevere in granting me perseverance and the faith to keep on when the work is a challenge or those around me do not understand the reasons why I do anything You put on my heart to do. 

Help my unbelief

Piper’s devotional for today contains this line: “Let us spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things, not by coercion, but by compelling conviction.” I’m not sure how that is done by coercion, but agree whole-heartedly that it must be by a deep conviction. If I’m doubting that God is in control, it will show up. While lack of faith could be the problem, doubt could arise from a proud attitude that I know better than God. It happened to Peter. Jesus spoke of His death…

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:22–23)

The disciples had much to learn about God’s sovereign power. So do the rest of us. Some evidence of not knowing, or forgetting truth about God can be: arrogant pride, or questioning doctrines (which isn’t always a bad idea), or emotionally responding to bad news, or questioning God’s fairness or goodness, or always wanting evidence, or feeling disconnected perhaps by His silence or lack of answered prayer, or fear of the future, or failure to read and meditate on His promises, or just plain disobedience.

When a distraught father brought his demon-possessed son to Jesus, he said, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” And Jesus said to him, “ ‘If you can’! All things are possible for one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:22–24)

This man knew that faith and doubt can co-exist. He trusted the Lord in one way or he would not have brought his son to Jesus, but he recognized his doubts too. The boy’s problem seemed beyond fixing and perhaps the father’s unbelief was blocking the miracle he wanted. He also recognized that he needed help from the Lord to fully believe He would do what was needed. In other words, faith is not something this man could just conjure up on his own. He knew it was a gift from God. Paul later affirmed this:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Without that compelling conviction, which is often called the assurance of faith, my mind will waffle between trusting God when I see or feel Him at work, and not being certain when nothing is happening. I fall into ‘walking by sight’ which is not faith at all.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

When my assurance is missing and I am waffling, the Lord is merciful with a solution. He says “faith comes by hearing” to those who did not yet have the NT. To me, faith comes that way and also by reading — because the Holy Spirit uses both to enlighten me. He wants me to know:

I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life. And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him. (1 John 5:13–15)

There is one element most necessary though, and that is to recognize and confess whatever is blocking or replacing faith. Just the list above points to the most common avenues of doubt: questioning doctrine, following emotions, questioning God’s goodness, seeking evidence, thinking He is not listening, fear, failure to read or remember His promises, or just plain disobedience that assumes my way will work, or is better than His way. If I have these or any other unconfessed sin in my life, the first thing to snap is being certain that God is who and what He says He is. It happened to Eve in the garden and “Did God really say…” is still the devil’s favorite tool.

PRAY: Jesus, I know the answers to doubt. Doing what I know is another issue — and it suggests that I don’t really believe the answers. I believe. When I falter and fail to trust You, help my unbelief.

Patience

Last night’s Bible study raised an interesting question: why do we belittle “doubting Thomas” just because he said:

“Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” (John 20:25)

How many times have we asked God to prove something by giving us what our eyes can see? After all, faith is defined this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)?

After some discussion, we determined that doubt is asking for proof in an attempt to build or reassure our faith or erase our doubts. However, God often answers prayer or does things we did not expect, giving us a faith-builder that was initiated by Him. There is a difference between asking for proof and Him giving us proof because He sees we need a boost.

As for doubt, it is related to impatience, like the child that wants supper now when supper has not finished cooking. Sometimes this is described to a human inability to deal with delayed gratification. This happens to adults too. We want something NOW.

Devotional reading this morning asks: Do I have the patience to wait on God’s timing? The Word of God describes the journey to patience this way:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2–4)

“Steadfast” means to endure patiently. It is a trait developed by having it tested by difficulties or challenges. Those tests usually start small.

For instance, when others learn that I quilt, they often say, “I don’t have the patience for that” meaning they want the quilt finished. When I started quilting, I enjoyed the process so much that finishing was often delayed. Now I’m very glad to have another one finished but have learned through making many quilts that the process is necessary. It also built my patience so I can persist on a project until it is done without being antsy about it.

The truth is, God patiently goes through a process to answer many of my prayers. He may give me a requested parking place in a few minutes, but when I pray for someone’s healing, or salvation, rarely do such things happen at the snap of a finger. He could do it that way, but takes time to soften hearts (or build immune systems) in respect to human situations. Not everyone is like Saul, who was persecuting Christians when God confronted him and changed his life. It seemed like an instant zap, and so did my salvation — at least to observers. No one could see the preparation going on in my heart for many years.

God’s process begins by convincing a person that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him. But then they hear that they are sinners who need Him. That is a common parking place, but some admit it is true and find out that He loves them enough to die for their sin. If someone resists any of those things, He comes to them in different ways, always looking for a change in their hearts at whatever stage they are in so they can move toward Him.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

Thomas doubted that Jesus was alive. When I pray for someone and nothing seems to be happening, I could doubt that God is at work, but the entire Bible declares otherwise. I just cannot see it, like Thomas doubted until he saw Jesus. Basically, this man was saying to the other disciples, “I hear you tell me but I need to see Jesus for myself.” That sounds less like doubt and more like what Jesus wants for everyone — not to believe on hearsay but believe in Him because of a personal and very real encounter with Him.

PRAY: You are telling me again to be patient. I want what You want and I know that You could speak and make things happen instantly, but like most instant stuff in our world, it never turns out with the same power and potential as those things that take time to accomplish. I’ve been told not to pray for patience as it invites trials, but it also produces maturity. May Your will be done.

Living for Jesus is not a payback

Today’s reading gives more reasons why I should never consider that my obedience is paying  God back for all He has done for me. Even if I could do it, I would be turning grace into a business transaction. If I could pay him back, my salvation could not be by grace. Grace is a free gift.

Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. (Romans 4:4)

I might do this trade thing when someone invites us for dinner and I want to return the favor and pay them back. Feeling obligated nullifies their gracious gift. God does not ask for that response to His gracious gift. Instead, I am to “praise his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. . . . so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. . . . who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Ephesians 1:6-14)

Piper also points out that focusing on gratitude as an empowerment for obedience tends to overlook the crucial importance of future grace. In other words, gratitude looks back to grace received in the past and feels thankful. However, faith looks forward to grace promised in the future and feels hopeful.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Trusting God for the future strengthens my obedience. It is confidence in what God will do. Past grace builds confidence for that future that is not seen, but paying Him back turns grace into a trade. Instead, my obedience must come from trusting Him for more grace. This trust honors His promises and His power so I can say with Paul:

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. (1 Corinthians 15:10)

His trust was in God's promises, as did Joshua who heard God say: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9) This man then obeyed and moved as God directed and empowered him to move ahead.

God promises me what I need. I trusted Him on His past performance and faith gives me courage to trust Him for future needs. I am not to do the payback thing as reason for obedience but instead honor His promises to lead me and give me whatever I need for what He may ask me to do:

He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32)

PRAY: I never know what each day brings, but I do know that You can enable me to follow Your lead and do Your will, not only because of past grace, but because of Your promises. Trusting You is vital. Thanking You is also vital. Trying to pay You back for all that You have done is an exercise in futility.

Faith in what I cannot see…

 

Every now and then God shows answers to prayer. Friends who were ill and we prayed for healing and it happened. Or a prayer for finances worked out. Or prayers for changed lives happened. Even my prayers for parking places have put me in a busy lot right in front of the store door. But these are exceptions not the norm.

Faith is the assurance of things not seen. When I pray for an unnamed pastor in a unnamed country using an app that receives such requests, I have no idea what God does in answer to that prayer. It could be yes, no, or wait. When I pray for politicians, or leaders in other realms, I may see things happen, but not be certain that is the answer to my prayer. God’s ways are mysterious.

Last week, I had a whim to look at a show home in another part of the city, wound up having lunch in a place we’d never visited, read a news story in that restaurant, looked it up on YouTube when we got home, sent the link to a young friend and he later emailed me to say that changed the direction of his life. When I told a Christian friend about this chain of events, she replied how often she longed to see the results of her actions, and her prayers.

However, we agree that faith is about trusting the Lord, whether we can see what He is doing or not. Today’s reading says our desire is not about seeing what the Lord does but about seeing Him.

As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? (Psalm 42:1–2)
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Piper writes, “Nearness to God himself is the only all-satisfying experience of the universe” and that the psalmist wants to see the power and glory of God. Can that happen without seeing answers to all my prayers? Yes, it can. There are days when I am overwhelmed by simply reading His Word and realizing afresh the wonder of who He is and the nearness of His presence.

PRAY: Jesus, I desire that my mind is on You whenever it is free from the necessities of thought, that my emotions are elevated as I sense Your nearness and Your love, and that my will is fixed on Your will being done — whether I can see it happening or not. Based on the reality of faith, I can know that You are at work concerning all things that concern me because You say that You are in my life whether I can see it or not. Maybe eternity will reveal what is unseen or not, yet it will let me see You face to face, and that will be enough.

God’s perfect will. . . .

I’ve been praying more than twenty years for the salvation of some family members and friends. Through this, God is teaching me patience. However, I have a small problem concerning my own need that I’ve prayed about for a week and am getting impatient. This says a great deal about my concern for others and my selfishness concerning myself.

I read this morning that I am impatient if I think time belongs to me, but if I realize it  belongs to God, I will have the capacity to be patient. The question is, am I willing to trust in Him when I am living in the middle of the story, or do I want to fast forward to the end? Do I want to skip the struggle to get to the resolution? Or even in the struggle can I be content to trust in God, letting faith in the unseen be my anchor during this troubling time? If I can do it for the salvation of others, what is my problem with waiting on Him concerning a small problem of my own? Where is my faith then?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Why is it easier to depend on the unseen for someone else and not for myself? Am I so important that I must have God hear me right now? I am critical of those Christians who must have a resolution to all of life’s struggles as soon as possible, yet accept my impatience without thinking I also lack the faith needed to wait just as they do?

God promised to meet all my needs. Do I doubt that He sees my prayer as a need, or that the answer would be helpful? In Exodus, He held back on some vital needs of His people to test them, to see if they would obey Him. Am I so short-sighted that I cannot see this might be why He delays?

This week, an eleven-year-old child said to me, “When we have troubles, God is trying to teach us something.” How easily the flesh forgets that truth. How wonderful that He can speak it through the lips of a little one to someone who is old enough to be her great-grandmother. I am humbled.

My little problem does rob me of energy and enthusiasm, but I must not let it rob me of faith. God is the same God for this issue that He is for all issues. He rules the universe and the earth revolves around the sun at the exact time and angle needed for our lives to thrive. My problems are nothing to such an Almighty God.

PRAY: Lord, You know my needs. Forgive me for thinking that You have forgotten me or that You do not care. Your timing is always perfect and You are good all the time. As Hebrews 13:8 says, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” I can depend on Your will to be done, in Your way and in Your perfect time.

When “believers” stray…

 

When I was a new Christian, I attended a church for a while that taught the opposite of what I believed. They had the idea that a person willed to believe and could do the opposite and ‘unwill’ it and lose their salvation. They pointed to texts in Scripture that seemed to say that, often taking them out of context.

One verse says: “For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end” (Hebrews 3:14) and seems to put the onus on us to hang in there. In light of many other verses, I read it as saying that the mark of true faith was being firmly confident to the end.

These days my prayer list includes several young people that might be called prodigals. They started out in a Christian family, going to church, professing faith, but as they grew older, they walked away. Perhaps their faith was a choice, something like today’s reading suggests:

“Just take your childhood Psalm and say, ‘This is my Psalm, and I am going to believe it. I have always known it by heart, but it has never meant much to me. But now I have made up my mind to believe that the Lord really is my Shepherd and that He will care for me as a shepherd cares for his sheep. I will not question it again.’ ”

The problem is that this is not a good description of saving faith. The Bible says:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)
And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. (John 17:3)

As Jesus said, saving faith is a relationship. It is also a gift that comes through hearing God speak and gives deep assurance and a conviction of truth without being able to ‘see’ it. In other words, if my mom or anyone else told me what I should believe, spelled it out, gave me verses to read, but God did not apply them to my heart and I did not hear Him speak, then this ‘faith’ was learned, not the same as the gift that changed my life.

Sometimes those with that kind of ‘learned faith’ stay in the church, think they are a believer, do good things, but their faith is not what Jesus said it should be:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (Matthew 7:21–23)

A friend says that true faith knows Jesus and this results in them beginning to be like Him. That changed life is evidence that God has been at work. Paul said: “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” (Philippians 1:6)

Genuine faith, given by God, is a done deal. Once changed, I will never be unchanged. How can ‘eternal’ be temporary? How can the promises of God be turned back? Not by any doubts I might have, for if have such a problem. He simply does things to show me the reality of His grace and saving power.

My prayers for these ‘prodigals’ is not that they get sick of eating pig food (though that might help), but that they hear the voice of Christ, that He will speak grace to them and they will be offered His gift and accept it. Some do but let doubts move them from the congregation, but if they are God’s, He will finish what He started and bring them back. Some do not. They only heard people telling them what they should believe and do, not Jesus. They need to hear Him and know Him, not dogma and doctrine or they will not come back.

PRAY: Lord, You know hearts. I don’t, but I do know that Your firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His” (2 Timothy 2:19) and that You want no one to perish. Bring the stragglers home to Your great heart and help me to show them the love that also brought me to You and forever keeps me close.

One feeling that is important…

God keeps blessing our move with things unplanned, goodness unexpected. Every day brings a new surprise. I keep thinking that faith in God and His goodness opens like a flower to release the fragrance of His love.

Today’s devotional speaks again about what God expects of me and how that is based on the  assured knowledge of my reconciliation with God. I know that God wants me to serve Him as an heir, not as a servant, yet I am His, like a slave belongs to his owner, not working for wages as the reading suggests, but as one released from bondage and staying on as a servant to my new Master. I am more than that; I am also His child and His heir. Being a Christian is multifaceted with greater definition than one comparison… just as God Himself cannot be described by one metaphor.

The devotional writer seems to think that all readers have doubts about their faith and the eventual outcome of that faith. While the reading says “the assurance of faith is the only normal condition of a child of God” and it “comes simply by believing God” rather than relying on feelings, my assurance of faith is a solid matter after fifty years of reading His Word. From what God says, I know this:

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36)

And I have known it from day one. As for feelings, the song says, ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength” and that joy is so distinct and different from human ‘happiness’ because it does not depend on circumstances. For that reason, joy has become the only feeling that I do rely on. In other words, if His joy is missing, then I’m not filled with His Spirit for joy is the Spirit’s fruit. When joy is missing, I  have some praying to do, including confession of all sin including doubt. Joy is one feeling that assures me that my life is on His path and I’m not doing my own thing.

This is not about the feelings warned about in the reading. The author points out that Scripture never says, “He who feels has …” and states that feelings are no guide whatsoever in our assurance of faith, adding that in all matters regarding facts it is folly to depend on feelings. We must rely on faith, on whether something is true or not.

That statement “assurance of faith” cannot be answered by feelings anyway, because faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) Faith does not consist of a convincing feeling because it is its own assurance… a ‘knowing’ that comes from believing what God says, of realizing and agreeing that His word is true, and nothing but facts. If I doubt that, then I have sin to confess — and my feelings of joy are missing.

I cannot disregard joy. It is the only ‘state of my feelings’ that gives me a clue about what is going on in my spiritual life. God gave me Himself and His wisdom. My goal is to know Him and His will. Joy tells me that I am in the right path. Other emotions may come and go. Some of them are okay, like righteous anger, spiritual sorrow, etc., and others need to be confessed as fleshy and of no consequence at all except to indicate I’m walking in the flesh. Mere human feelings have no power to ruin my assurance, only to reveal that I’ve wandered off God’s path.

PRAY: Lord, You have brought me to a far different attitude toward feelings than ‘don’t trust them’ as I can now see how just one ‘feeling’ can inform how my walk with You is going. Joy, or the lack of joy, tells me much about what I need to do. It also gives me strength for the tasks ahead — and today that task involves a whole bunch of boxes.

Trusting in what I cannot see… yet!

The hurricane in south USA brought anxiety to my heart. Not only feeling angst for the many people who lost everything, and for those who lost family members, but also one of our adult children lives close to the places that were destroyed. She didn’t call right away, and although I was praying for her and others in that dire situation, I had no affirmation that she was okay, only trusting God that it was so.

Eventually we communicated. Other things were happening in her life but that unreal storm missed her and her family by a couple hours. She knows people who lost everything, and like me, is devastated by this never-before horrendous event.

Today’s devotional reading is about wanting to know what is going on with evidence — in contrast to trusting God when we do not know what is going on. I have a friend that often says that she needs an affirmation to supplement her faith, and finds it hard to trust God when she does not see something happening in regard to her prayers. I’ve questioned that sort of ‘faith’ yet it happens to me too.

The devotional describes this as human thinking. We tend to require some evidence before believing something God says will happen. Even a good feeling about it helps, but something visual is better, or something like a phone call from a family member who could be in danger. I tend to want a strong feeling that something will be okay, a feeling that seems strong and is supposedly reliable. This translates to wanting an affirmation so I can see before I believe that God is answering my prayers. However, this is not the way of faith.

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

Faith is described much like something my mother wrote in the back of her Bible: “God said it, I believe it. That settles it.”

I often cannot see what God is doing, but if He makes a promise or any statement about something, my faith cannot be in seeing it happen, but in the reality that God said it would happen. Consider this well-known verse:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Do I mope about waiting until I die to see if I have eternal life before I can believe it? Obviously if I did that, then my faith was not in what the Word of God says, but in the evidence before my eyes. That would not only be foolish, it would be too late then to believe, and is not a walk of faith in this life either.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)
… for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

The facts are whatever God says. He tells me to believe in Christ and I will live eternally. I cannot base my faith on any affirmation, for the affirmation comes with a caveat — faith comes first, not after it. This applies to now, everyday life, not just after I die.

The sad part is that no matter how many times God affirms that He will take care of something, looking for proof or evidence that He will do it is a mere demonstration that I am not taking Him at His Word, not believing Him at all. Such “faith” is not faith but unbelief, and not only that, “Whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:23)

PRAY: Jesus, I know that You love me because You say so. Even though the evidence is Calvary, this is not about my feelings or even about what I can see. There are days when I don’t feel loved and it seems nothing is happening to prove it. But Your Word is enough. Today I am tired, and for that problem, You give me this promise:

He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:29–31)

And You ask me to move ahead in faith that You will do it rather than sitting here waiting for it to happen before I believe You. I’m aware that You want me to move into this day, faint, weary, even exhausted, but trusting You to give me what I need before I see it happen. Again, a timely truth and another test of faith…

Inadequate faith vs. Real Faith

The NT gospel message affirms that believing in Jesus is not just believing that He exists, yet these verses use the same Greek word that means to believe or to trust:

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:19)

Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man. (John 2:23–25)

And they discussed it with one another, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ (Mark 11:31)

If believing in Jesus means to whole-heartedly trust my life to Him, the different ways this word is used (there are more than 100 of them) shows the importance of context when interpreting Scripture. First of all, the demons believed — meaning they knew the truth about Jesus. This is part of faith, but does not mean that the demons trusted Him to save them or to change their lives.

Those at the feast saw His miracles and believed He was what His name means. “Jesus” is the Greek transliteration of Joshua, meaning “Yahweh saves” yet Jesus did not believe or trust them for He knew their hearts. Their belief was not personal? Perhaps not, but it was insufficient.

The third verse is a good question. If I know Jesus is who He says He is, and can save me from my sin, that knowledge is inadequate. I knew this for years but was not saved. This is because saving faith is not mine to conjure up; it is a gift from God:

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:8–9)

Yes, faith is described that to draw near to God, we must “believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6) but that is about drawing near. The ‘believing, trusting’ kind of faith is like this:

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

This is that inner knowing that what we cannot see is true — why? Because God says so. This is not assumption, nor is it a deep desire for what I want to be true. It is a gift from God about what He says and what He will do, a revelation that assures, a knowing about something even if it does not make sense or seem reasonable at the time.

This is why the belief of the demons was in adequate. God did not give them assurance of their salvation because it was not going to happen. No wonder they shuddered!

This is why faith because of signs is inadequate. It is a belief on proof, not on things unseen. This is also why Jesus did not entrust Himself to them. Their ‘faith’ would always be by sight rather than trusting Him when they could not see what He was doing or would do, faith no matter what.

In context, those who would not believe were more worried about what people thought of them than they were interested in admitting and submitting to the authority of Jesus. That is not true belief either.

Today’s reading asks why we can trust ourselves to other people, but not Jesus? Trusting others is temporary, based on seeing why they are reliable, and gets pulled back when they do the unexpected or the undesired. Trusting Jesus is for eternity, and for ‘no matter what’ He brings into our lives. Trusting Jesus is not the same kind of belief as it is to trust another person.

PRAY: Lord Jesus, I’m overwhelmed that You granted me the gift of faith. It has taken me many years to see the precious value of this gift and the gift of Your own self that I might live it out. Grant me even greater faith in You so that no matter what each day brings, I will embrace it as Your plan for my life and for Your glory. Amen.

Peace has a caveat

 

Do not, as children do, keep digging up your plants to see if they are growing. Trust the divine Husbandman absolutely and always. Accept each moment’s dispensation as it comes to you from His hands. Say a continual yes to your Father’s will. Finally, in this, as in all the other cares of your life:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6–7)

Doing this is easier in some instances than others. Suppose I’m anxious about giving a lesson next week and anxious that I will do it with the Spirit’s fullness. Next week comes, it happens and God blesses it. But what about the salvation of a grandchild who lives far away and there is little interaction with him or her? I am hearing that this child is far from loving and living for Jesus. No good news, ever. Can I experience the peace of God in that situation that seems to have no light at the end of the tunnel?

The context of these verses offer a few clues. It speaks of agreeing with those Christians that I serve God alongside. It says to rejoice in the Lord making Him my source of joy. It also says to let my reasonableness or gentleness be visible to everyone. It also tells me to think of good things and put into practice all that God is teaching me. This ‘peace of God that surpasses understanding’ is not for those who fight with others, find joy only in circumstances going their way, are harsh, and have a mind filled with garbage. Disobedience is certainly a barrier to peace.

These things, when present in my life, are indications that I’m not trusting God. How then can I pray for someone in faith? It is impossible. It goes without saying that faith can be described as “surpassing understanding” similar to the peace of God. It is humanly beyond me that I can trust what cannot be seen and to be certain to the point that I have no worries about the issues at hand, yet…

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

This is like being blind and stepping off solid ground without seeing the suspension bridge across a chasm. It is like putting my fork into the plate in front of me without seeing what will go into my mouth. Faith cannot see what I hope for, but knowing God is good and will take care of me is my assurance. It is not assumption that ‘all will be okay’ with some sort of Pollyanna thinking at its roots, but faith that is rooted in God, in His power and His promises. If He says it, it will happen. Faith is not blind in the sense that it is ‘I hope so’ but that it is based on a real God who is personal and cares:

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Believing He exists goes beyond a hopeful notion that there is someone out there. It is trust, not a notion. It is knowing something, not merely hoping. And rewards for seeking are real, not hope so. Seeking is about diligence, not a mere glance around for evidence but looking with an expectation of finding because the evidence is already there — in God.

God knows how to make Himself known. Many who live in places where missionary work is banned are having dreams and visions that God is using to show them that He not only exists but that Jesus Christ died for their sin and offers them eternal life. He can speak His Word, with or without a book.

That said, those who have the Bible are told to tell others about Jesus because “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) For this reason, Jesus tells me:

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20)

Again, I am not given the visual results of faith, only the commands to do what God says and trust that He will grant faith to others as He sees fit.

PRAY: Jesus, in some ways praying is easier than sharing the gospel, yet either way, faith in You is required — and doing either one is impossible without it. Grant me the faith needed to be totally obedient, both in speaking to You and in sharing You with others.

Christ, above all . . .

Every morning before opening my Bible, I take a few minutes to sing praises. I’m glad God hears our heart not any off key noises. This morning was two songs: Above All and I Speak Jesus, both praising His perfections and the power of His name. Then this was in my devotional reading:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, (Hebrews 1:1–3)

Whoever wrote Hebrews wanted Jewish readers in various places in their spiritual journey to realize the superiority of Jesus Christ. He is above all — all OT people of faith, all institutions, rituals, sacrifices and any other claim of salvation. Some of his readers were believers. Some were not Christians yet, but leaning that direction. Others were not believers who gave into the idea that their religious heritage was good enough, or that their lives were good enough. The writer of Hebrews urged them to consider all that Jesus has done and let Him change their lives.

Because the focus was on their old system, most of the readers needed to understand how Jesus compared with angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron and his priesthood, the Old Covenant, and the sacrificial system. Some of them were being persecuted because of their interest in Him and that pressure confused them. They wanted to be comfortable and go back to Jewish ceremonies. legalism and former practices.

Others were perhaps intellectually convinced but without saving faith and in danger of rejecting Jesus as their Messiah and Savior. They needed to see the difference between Christian beliefs and their former ways, much like many people today.

This strikes me as a problem. If my life does not reflect the newness of life that the gospel brings, then my family, friends, and neighbors will not see that Christ makes a difference and conclude they don’t need Him. As some say, those who believe in Jesus might be the only Bible that others read. How do I come across to them?

This is a question I cannot answer. There are days when I wonder if I should have said something about Jesus and didn’t, or should have shut up but talked too much. Actions speak also. Should I have made that call? Or not? Should I have given that money? Or to someone else? Am I praying the will of God? or for my own desires?

This week our prayer group talked about presumption. Is it ever valid? I presume God hears and answers my prayers? Or is that conjecture? Are my prayers a reflection of what I want, or what God wants?

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1)

For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

We look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

These questions are about faith, about knowing — with an assurance that comes to our innermost being and is given by God’s Spirit. Faith often does not makes sense, at least in a logical, human way of thinking. God saves sinners? God convicts us that what we cannot see is nevertheless real? What we see or perceive with our senses can be deceptive? The unseen is eternal?

All my question marks disappear when I consider Jesus. He covers preconceived ideas, teachings, rumors, fantasies, and I simply need to look at the evidence. It does not make sense that God should become a man, even a babe in a manger, but this is His claim. It does not make sense that He healed the sick, drove out demons, communed with sinners, but He did. His death makes no sense, nor does His resurrection. Yet there is that new life that transforms those who believe in Him.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17–21)

PRAY: Lord, enable me to intercede for those who believe, for those weak in faith, for those standing on the fringe, and those who seemingly scoff at You and Your claims. I know Your name is powerful. May I speak it at every opportunity.

PONDER: What do people, me included, tend to elevate above the preeminence and surpassing grace of God in Jesus Christ? How can those idols be toppled?