ASSURANCE FOR THE DAY

HOW DO WE KNOW WHEN WE ARE BASING OUR SECURITY ON THE WRONG THINGS?
Luke 18:18-30; verse 24 - Jesus watched him go and then said to his disciples, “How hard it is for rich people to get into the Kingdom of God!”

This man’s wealth smoothed his life and gave him power and prestige. When Jesus told him to sell everything he owned, he was touching the man’s very basis for security and identity. The man did not understand that he would be even more secure if he followed Jesus than he was with all his wealth. Jesus does not ask all believers to sell everything they have, although this may be his will for some. He does ask us all, however, to get rid of anything that has become more important to us than God. If your basis for security has shifted from God to what you own, it would be better for you to get rid of those possessions.

FIRM ASSURANCE IS DEPENDENCE ON GOD’S PROMISES. Exodus 4:1-17 - Moses clung tightly to the shepherd’s staff as he left for Egypt to face the greatest challenge of his life. The staff was his assurance of God’s presence and power. When feeling uncertain, some people need something to stabilize and reassure them. For assurance when facing great trials, God has given promises from his Word and examples from great heroes of faith. Any Christian may cling tightly to these.

FIRM ASSURANCE IS BASED ON GOD’S WORD. Exodus 13:17-22 - God gave the Hebrews a pillar of cloud and a pillar of fire so they would know day and night that God was with them on their journey to the Promised Land. What has he given us so that we can have the same assurance? The Bible-something the Israelites did not have. Look to God’s Word for reassurance of his presence. As the Hebrews looked to the pillars of cloud and fire, we can look to God’s Word day and night to know he is with us, helping us on our journey.

FIRM ASSURANCE IS BASED ON GOD’S CARE FOR US. Luke 21:5-19 - Jesus warned his followers of coming persecutions in which they would be betrayed by their family members and friends. Christians of every age have had to face this possibility. It is reassuring to know that even when we feel completely abandoned, the Holy Spirit stays with us. He will comfort us, protect us, and give us the words we need. This assurance can give us the courage and hope to stand firm for Christ no matter how difficult the situation.

FIRM ASSURANCE IS BASED ON CHRIST’S RESURRECTION. Romans 6:1-14 - Because of Christ’s death and resurrection, his followers need never fear death. This frees us to fellowship with him and do his will. This will affect all our activities-work and worship, play and Bible study, quiet times and times of caring for others. When you know you need not fear death, you will experience renewed vigor in life.

IN WHOM SHOULD WE PLACE OUR ASSURANCE? Jeremiah 17:5-8 - This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the Lord. They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives. But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.”

1 Peter 1:21 - Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And because God raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory, your faith and hope can be placed confidently in God. While it is good and necessary to trust others, God is the only one in whom we can completely trust. We can have complete assurance that what he says is true and what he does is reliable. That’s because people, who are not perfect, will sometimes fail you, but God, who is perfect, will never fail you.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BENEFITS OF PLACING OUR ASSURANCE IN GOD? We can approach God knowing that he gladly welcomes us and will never reject us because of Jesus Christ. God will never say, “Sorry, I don’t have time for you,” or “Sorry, don’t bother me.” He always listens, always hears, always loves, is always there.

Philippians 4:7 - If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Placing our assurance in God gives us inner peace regardless of our life circumstances. The God of peace is the only reliable source of true peace.

Because of our assurance in God and his promises, we have confidence to face the challenges of our lives.
We can sing praises to God because we have rightly placed our confidence in him. When it finally dawns on us that God is who he says he is and will never fail us, it’s time to burst into praise and thanksgiving.

HOW CAN WE BE SURE OF GOD’S LOVE FOR US? John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. Romans 8:35, 38-39 - Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? . . . And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can have full assurance in God’s love because God is love. His love is woven into his character. Love is not merely something God does, but love is who he is.
PJ