I'm taking a class right now (made for new Christians or those wanting a refresher course) and we're going though Billy Grahams Thirty Discipleship Exercises. (quick devotionals, I highly recommend) This weeks was on Assurance. This is one of my biggest struggles and my main reason to take the class. Assurance that I'm doing the right thing, Assurance that I know the basics, Assurance that I'm still headed in the right direction. I'm a doubter, I have great faith in the action right now but lets just say I'm glad I'm not Lot's wife because I'd have been salt over and over again. I am David, "Let's Go!!!" with all the passion in the world...but was I supposed to go... or is this mess because I went without a real "Go" from God.
I am in love with these scriptures this week....
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. John 10:27-29
And last......
Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:6
How Assuring it is to know that not only will no thing separate us from him but no one. That has got to include me right? And not only that but Philippians says that he will, not that he might or he can but he will complete what he's started in me. I went into deep prayer after this and just tried to soak it all in and I got this picture of being in this place with God. Feeling him come towards me, I closed my eyes and I was reminded
of last weeks scripture....
Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. John 1:12-13
......I felt that I was standing before him not dirty and like some beggars kid but as his and like so often parents do with their children he kissed me on the forehead. I felt this tingly warm sensation physically right where I had felt him in the picture and my heart ached. Then the words...Carry it with you, as a mark upon your forehead, so that they may see and know you are mine.
Wow....I'm his. Do I think I need to walk around and put a physical mark on my forehead? No,...but to accept and walk proud that I am his, HIS, and nothing that I or anyone or anything else can do will separate me from him is amazing...and people can see that. The confidence that he WILL finish his work simply because I accept that I am his, is beyond measure. To walk around in that....I don't think anyone would be able to miss it....what an amazing "mark" that is.
