Tag: Security

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I’m Sure

Daily Reading

1John 1-5

Daily Thought

Theologians call it eternal security, and the idea is, once saved, always saved–you cannot lose your salvation because God will never let you go. Growing up, that’s what I was taught, so I began college secure that I could do anything I desired without jeopardizing my eternity. And so I did anything. 

One day, however, I came across 2Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!” What was the test? I didn’t know; I only knew I failed it. I discovered there is a difference between being secure in my faith, which is God’s business, and being sure of my faith, which is mine; and I was no longer sure.

Fortunately, I found a test. It was in the first letter written by the apostle John, and it came in three parts.

“This is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” ~1John 5:11-12

A question for my head, do I trust Jesus is the Son of God, my Savior? 

“By this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” ~1John 2:3-4

A question for my feet, do I follow God’s ways? 

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” ~1John 4:7-8

And a question for my heart, do I love? 

I trust, I follow, I love, and I’m sure.

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. ~1John 5:13

Daily Prayer

God, Your Son came to this world and endured the shame of the cross for my sake. May I endure its shame, as well. I would gladly boast of Your sacrifice, no matter the cost, because Your shame is the power of my salvation. You took my sin and bore its penalty by dying on the cross. The cross of a criminal. The cross I deserved.

This is Your glory, the glory of love so strong that You suffered the cross for me, a sinner. I will lift up Your Name, no matter the consequences, because it is Your Name, and Your Name alone, by which I am saved.

What a wonderful cross. What a wonderful Savior.

Amen

Daily Question

Are you sure you are saved? Why or why not?

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The Fear of God

Daily Reading

Habakkuk 1-3; Zephaniah 1-3

Daily Thought

The prophet Habakkuk cries out to a righteous God, “You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong, why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent?” (Habakkuk 1:13). The powerful Chaldeans are wicked people and they are attacking us. God, do you not see the evil in this world?

Mr. Dubose was the mean neighbor in the white house three houses down from my childhood home. One day, playing kickball in the street, the ball went astray and hit the rear tire of his corvette. Mr. Dubose held the ball out for me to retrieve, but as I approached, he reared back and fired it into my chest knocking me over. This was Goliath versus David, the Chaldeans versus Israel, Mr. Dubose versus 7-year-old me. Except I have a dad and my dad came out and had a “talk” with Mr. Dubose. My dad was a Marine in World War II and fought in the battle of Okinawa. I had never seen my dad fight (and never would), but as I watched him talk with our neighbor, I gained a sense of what he was capable.

In chapter 2, God responds to Habakkuk: “Woe to him who heaps up what is not his own” (v 6); “Woe to him who gets evil gain for his house” (v 9); “Woe to him who builds a town with blood” (v 12); “Woe to him who makes his neighbors drink” (v 15); “Woe to him who says to a wooden thing, Awake; to a silent stone, Arise!” (v 19). God may be unseen, but he sees all. He sees all the plunder, the pride, the warfare, the debauchery, the idolatry, so he has a “talk” with the Chaldeans, but these woes are more than a warning to an evil people, they are words of assurance to God’s children. Habakkuk can rest; he belongs to God. God is by his side and on his side.  

Yet I will quietly wait for the day of trouble
to come upon people who invade us. ~Habakkuk 3:16

Mr. Dubose did not change. He remained the mean old man in the white house, but he did not frighten me anymore because I knew my dad was here, he was capable, and he cares. 

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
“Fear not, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love.  ~Zephaniah 3:16-17

Daily Prayer

My God, Yours is the Name above all names. There is authority in Your Name, and in Your Name I find life. Your Name is holy and good, righteous and powerful. I know this and I am learning to trust You. And as I learn to trust You, I find rest. If you are for me, who can be against me? I am glad You are here, You are almighty, and You love me. 

What foe shall I fear when God is my friend.

Amen

Daily Question

Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom.” What does that mean?