Tag: Assurance

The shepherd with his sheep

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HIGHLIGHT

Revelation 7:17 (ESV): 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

EXPLAIN

Revelation 7 is all about how God will take care of and reward those who determine to follow him. First, we read that God will have an angel seal 144,000 from every tribe of the sons of Israel.

Interestingly, these tribes do not match the names of 12 tribes as often listed in the Old Testament: Dan and Ephraim are missing, while Levi and Joseph (as well as Joseph’s son Manasseh) are included. This, among other reasons, may suggest that the 144,000 is a symbolic representation of all God’s people who will be sealed by the angel.

Next, John saw a great multitude that could not be numbered standing before the throne and the Lamb, worshipping God. This innumerable host was identified as those coming out of the great tribulation.

The elder who spoke to John said that these martyrs will serve God day and night in the temple, being sheltered by his presence, not hungering, thirsting, or suffering from the heat of the sun anymore. Instead, the Lamb will be their shepherd.

APPLY

If we choose to serve Jesus and remain faithful to him, we can know that he will reward us with his favor. While we may feel all alone in the dark valleys of life, we can rest assured, for He is our shepherd. We can trust that He will renew us and replenish us. All tears and sorrows will one day be wiped away, and we will live in His presence eternally, shouting and singing in worship to Him.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for your assurance that you are faithful. Thank you for the promise that if we remain faithful, we can look forward to living in your very presence for eternity. Thank you that you watch out for your lambs. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

All you need to know

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HIGHLIGHT

1 John 2:26–27 (ESV): 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

EXPLAIN

John wrote this letter to assure a church that was experiencing the aftermath of conflict with false teachers. Various ones had come in the church teaching false doctrine. The church leaders had combatted the heresy. The conflict was ugly. Love seemed to be forgotten. The false teachers and those who accepted their deception left the church.

Now, John wrote to assure the believers that their hope in Jesus was true and to assure them that the love of Christ is demonstrated in how we treat one another.

Sincere followers of Jesus Christ desire to be always growing deeper in their knowledge about and of Christ. John was not saying that these believers had no more need to be taught spiritually (or else why did he write this letter?) or to grow spiritually.

Rather, John was assuring them that these false teachers who had come suggesting they had a secret knowledge were truly hucksters. Why? The Holy Spirit within us teaches all that we need to live in the light.

APPLY

If we listen closely to the Spirit’s voice and obey His command, we can be assured that we are where we need to be spiritually. We don’t need to worry about some special knowledge or insight others profess to have. Walking in step with the Spirit, we have full assurance of our salvation.

I love to learn more about God and His Word. I love, most of all, to learn Christ more deeply. But I need not feel unsure of my spirituality. If I abide with the Spirit, He will teach me all I need to know.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for Holy Spirit who lives with me and in me. May I develop an increasing sensitivity to the promptings of the Spirit and be quick to follow His lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

The Unseen Footprints

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HIGHLIGHT

Psalm 77:19 (ESV): 19 Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen.

EXPLAIN

This psalm is attributed to Asaph who said that he was crying out loud to God. Asaph was in great distress. He could not be comforted, and when he thought of God, he felt worse. He couldn’t sleep nor even speak because of his troubled mind and soul.

Finally, he decided to think back on the past. faithfulness of God. He asked if God would never display his love and grace again. That gave the psalmist hope. He determined to remember God’s past faithfulness and appeal to that hope.

In verse 15, Asaph remembered how God redeemed Judah and Israel by his arm. The next few verses speak of how the seas, the sky, and earth respond to God’s presence. Whether the psalmist was thinking of any specific historical event is unclear.

The last two verses of the psalm, Psalm 77:19-20, could refer to the Israelites’ crossing of the Red Sea. But the key fact noted by Asaph is not that the Israelites crossed on dry ground, but rather the idea, firstly, that God walked through the great waters with the Israelites, and secondly that God’s footprints were unseen.

APPLY

Probably every person has, or will have, a time in their life in which stress about their circumstances and the future robs them of sleep. Our heart is so troubled by wrong that we cannot find rest or comfort.

In those times, we may question, like Asaph, if God will ever restore us. Have we somehow lost God’s favor forever? Do God’s promises of faithfulness not apply to us?

If we remind ourselves of God’s deeds in the past, we can begin to find hope.

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples.

Psalm 77:13–14 (ESV)

It is then we remember and are assured that God walks with his people, even though we don’t see him at the time.

The famous “Footprints in Sand” poem suggests that when there is only one set of footprints God is carrying us. That mental imagery is beautiful.

Psalm 77 does not make that promise. Rather, this psalm assures us that while we must walk through great waters, God walks with us even though we may not see his footprints.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for the assurance that while your footprints may be unseen, you walk before me and with me even through the great trials of life. May I then be faithful to follow your path as you have been and always will be faithful to me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Thank you, Lord, for your blessings

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HIGHLIGHT

Psalm 65:12–13 (ESV): 12 The pastures of the wilderness overflow, the hills gird themselves with joy, 13 the meadows clothe themselves with flocks, the valleys deck themselves with grain, they shout and sing together for joy.

EXPLAIN

Psalms 63-65 may not have been written in chronological order, but they provide interesting comparison and contrast.

In Psalm 63, David was in the wilderness of Judah, longing for God’s presence. He chose to worship God and so expressed confidence that those who sought to destroy him would experience destruction.

In Psalm 64, David expressed his complaint to God, asking God to preserve his life from the enemy. David described their attacks as ambushes, mounting sudden, secret, evil attacks upon him. But David expressed his confidence that God would shoot his own arrows at the wicked and they would be brought to ruin.

In Psalm 65, we now find a psalm of praise in which vows would be performed to God in the house of worship. God was described as the one who established the mountains and stilled the roaring of the seas. Now God would visit the earth with water, causing the crops to grow abundantly.

APPLY

God allows us to traverse dark, dreadful valleys in our lives. Indeed, sometimes, God allows us to be chased into barren wildernesses. But for the one who seeks God faithfully, God blesses.

God’s blessing should not necessarily be equated with worldly riches, although that may be a result. The greatest blessing we receive from walking faithfully with God is the confidence of his presence, in good times and bad.

RESPOND

Heavenly Father, thank you for your abundant blessings upon my life. They are too numerous to list. But thank you especially for the assurance of salvation, growth in Christ, and the confidence of your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.