Tag Archives: you belong to God

Can you be sure?

 

Am I really a child of God? Does God really love me? Do I really love God?  Can I know for sure I’m going to heaven, when it seems like I’m such a disappointment to him? Does my life really matter?

 

When we take time away from our self pursuits and the busyness of life; when we turn off all the gadgets and try to really be still, we find there are lots of questions that our heart has been waiting to ask us. There are lingering doubts we’ve never addressed that long for a word of assurance. I love the answers found in 1 John 5 to these and other important questions.

 

First, it’s all about faith. Faith in Jesus as God’s Son. Faith that expresses itself through his love. This is the true mark of a child of God, one who believes, trusts, and obeys. For sure, our faith and love are imperfect. We waiver and stray. But just as your child has the assurance they belong to you and are always loved by you so you, dear child, have the same assurance from God. He knows you and you belong to him.

 

An old song said, “They will know we are Christians by our love.” God says the same thing. In fact, our love and obedience to his love is the evidence of our faith. We can say we believe something but if we don’t act on it, do we really believe it?

 

If our faith is real, if we really believe, we will learn to increasingly act on it. We’ll choose love over hate, compassion over apathy, peace over fear, worth over shame, trust and assurance over doubt and worry. Faith is God’s design for us to make better trades in life so we can live victoriously, not as slaves to our feelings and circumstances. Who can have this assurance? Anyone who really believes Jesus at his Word who listens to and obeys his Spirit who testifies to his truth.

 

“And this is the testimony: God has given 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. I write these things to you who believe inthe name of the Son of God so you may KNOW you have eternal life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. ( 1 John 5:11-13)

 

But the assurance is not just for eternal life. It’s for abundant life now, no matter what circumstances you face: cancer, pain, sorrow, loneliness, and troubles of all sorts. You can doubt it and try to find success in your own strength OR you can be sure, knowing God’s assurance for a victorious life is yours.

 

What are you going to believe?

 

(Thoughts on 1 John 5)

 

By what authority?

 

Have you ever been in the position where someone asks you a question but they aren’t really interested in your response? In fact, they’ve already formed their response and are eager to challenge you. And all of a sudden, you are in a battle of who’s right and whose authority will prevail.

 

Authority means to have power or control. It is defined as “the power to determine or settle issues or disputes; the right to control or command.” Jesus was teaching and preaching in the temple when the religious leaders interrupted him. How typical of the the enemy’s tactic to distract us and throw us off guard. He questions God’s authority and tempts us to act in our own authority and power. He knows that whenever we act in our own power, we will forget God in the pursuit of our own ambitions.

 

“Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”” Luke 20:2

 

It was a test to see if they could trap the teacher. They weren’t really interested in knowing the answer; their interest was entrapment, not understanding.  But Jesus didn’t fall for the trap. Instead, he asked them if John’s baptism was from heaven or from men. The leaders wouldn’t answer because if they said, “by heaven” Jesus would ask why they didn’t they believe him; if they said, “by men” they would earn the wrath of the people who considered John a prophet. Not finding a politically correct solution to their dilemma, they copped out and refused to answer.

 

It brings me to wonder, by what authority do we form our opinions and by whose authority do we make and act on decisions? If our answer is by the authority of God, we need to be prepared to reconcile how that claim lines up with God’s Word. If our answer is by our own authority, we’re setting up an authority that stands in opposition to God.

 

It’s tempting to think that we are our own boss, the captain of our own destiny. Without an understanding of the full gospel, we come to God asking him to bless the decisions we have already made and to defend the opinions we’ve already formed in our minds. But the bible says, “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God…” 1 Corinthians 19-20

 

If we were our own, then we would have authority to do whatever we want. We could say a mindless prayer and live life any way that pleases us. However, God’s Word has a different claim on our lives: “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1 John 4:4

 

Our victory over “those” people, the ones who offend and persecute us, comes from the authority of God’s Spirit who lives in us. Think about it: when Jesus said, “All authority has been given to me in Heaven and in the earth,” (Matthew 28:18), he was delegating that same authority – his authority – to us. His next sentence began with, “Go therefore and make disciples…” It wasn’t “Go and make a living” or “Go and pursue your dreams.” He didn’t say go make a plan in our own minds and worry when it didn’t work. He said to dedicate our lives to following and serving him fully, in his authority and power.

 

We aren’t called to make it up as we go or to follow our emotional irrationality or the vain philosophies of man. We aren’t called to live by opinions. We’re called to live by faith that the full authority of God has power and victory over every situation we confront. Isn’t that how you want to live? You can claim the authority of God in your life. Learn to wield it with wisdom and skill by understanding the power of God’s Word alive in you. We are not God, but he gives us his authority to live victoriously. “Go therefore,” and live a victorious life according to his purpose and calling!