"Whom have I in heaven but You? And besides You, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:25-26
There is really nothing like a trial to remind you what you're trusting in. It is when the pillars of your life come crumbling down that you realize that all of the earthly things you were trusting in can and will fail you. It is when the storms come crashing over your head and threaten to drown you that you have no choice but to cry out, "Lord, save me!" (Matt. 14:30) Even though the pain is unbelievable and life seems the most hopeless, there is an odd, paradoxical sense of desperate serenity. God is good and God is faithful.
For Christ,
Daniel
Monday, December 7, 2009
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Sons of God
"For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God."
Romans 8:14
Assurance of salvation, or rather lack of it, is something that plagues the mind of many Christians. Not all the time, but often this doubt stems from our great general failure to live our lives according to the will of God. If you have been saved, you have indeed been born again by the Spirit of God and God will "cause you to walk in [His] statutes" (Ezekiel 36:27). However, we still sin. In fact, one of the evidences of salvation that the apostle John gives in his letter is that we are conscious and repentant of our sin (1 John 1:8-10).
But to sin is one thing. How can we be saved if our days are marked by incessant sin? Are we really alive in Christ? This is a question that many Christians have struggled with throughout the centuries. Paul knew this agony very well: "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24) A few verses later, however, Paul gave the answer. If we are being led by the Spirit of God, then we are children of God. I struggle so much with my sin it makes me sick; literally, some times. Yet I see the hand of God upon my life. I see God convicting me of sin. When I am stubborn in my sin He will not let me go but "[His] hand [is] heavy upon me" (Psalm 32:4). Therefore, on the authority of scripture I can say without fear of arrogance that God has "wrapped me with a robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
Take a look at your life. Is God in it? I'm not talking about sinless perfection. Is the Holy Spirit leading you? Do you see the signs of a great and merciful God with His hand upon your shoulder guiding you along? Then you are a child of God.
For Christ,
Daniel
Romans 8:14
Assurance of salvation, or rather lack of it, is something that plagues the mind of many Christians. Not all the time, but often this doubt stems from our great general failure to live our lives according to the will of God. If you have been saved, you have indeed been born again by the Spirit of God and God will "cause you to walk in [His] statutes" (Ezekiel 36:27). However, we still sin. In fact, one of the evidences of salvation that the apostle John gives in his letter is that we are conscious and repentant of our sin (1 John 1:8-10).
But to sin is one thing. How can we be saved if our days are marked by incessant sin? Are we really alive in Christ? This is a question that many Christians have struggled with throughout the centuries. Paul knew this agony very well: "Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death?" (Romans 7:24) A few verses later, however, Paul gave the answer. If we are being led by the Spirit of God, then we are children of God. I struggle so much with my sin it makes me sick; literally, some times. Yet I see the hand of God upon my life. I see God convicting me of sin. When I am stubborn in my sin He will not let me go but "[His] hand [is] heavy upon me" (Psalm 32:4). Therefore, on the authority of scripture I can say without fear of arrogance that God has "wrapped me with a robe of righteousness" (Isaiah 61:10).
Take a look at your life. Is God in it? I'm not talking about sinless perfection. Is the Holy Spirit leading you? Do you see the signs of a great and merciful God with His hand upon your shoulder guiding you along? Then you are a child of God.
For Christ,
Daniel
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