JEREMIAH 22:16 – He pled the cause of the afflicted and needy; then it was well. Is not that what it means to know Me?” declares the Lord.

1 JOHN 3:14 – We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.

THEME OF THE DAY. HOW DO WE KNOW? No Christian sails through this difficult life lived in our spiritual enemy’s territory without having to battle his fiery darts of doubt seeking to make us question our identity as Christians. Doubting of salvation is a choice tactic he uses to paralyze God’s people. It has proved to be effective throughout human history with the first attack of doubt occurring in the Garden of Eden. Though the attack on Eve was not doubting her identity in her relationship with God, it was a direct attack to get her to doubt God’s Word which is the basis and evidence of our identity and salvation in the Lord – Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1).

So, when the flaming arrows of doubt come, how may we quench them and maintain a level of assurance that we are indeed God’s children, forever saved and adopted in His family? Today’s two scriptures are great helps, but before we look there, we must identify a place never to go – feelings. If we base our assurance of salvation on our feelings, the devil will laugh, “lick his chops” and drive us to doubting and joyless Christian experience that misrepresents the Lord Jesus and will leave us having no influence for Him in our worlds. Doubting Christians are fearful and ineffective Christians. Now, the places where assurance will be found . . .

First investigate our lives and see if we are compassionate and active in serving the suffering and needy in our world. The prophet Jeremiah tells us “those who know the Lord plead the cause of the afflicted and needy.” What this means is we are like the Good Samaritan in Jesus’ parable (Luke 10:23-37). The scriptures read – But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him (Luke 10:33-34). Friends, we must be serving the hurting; giving relief to the suffering around us and meeting the needs of the least of these. If our profession of faith in Christ doesn’t lead us to serve people as Christ, assurance of being His child will be absent. Disobedience and assurance cannot coincide.

The other way we may know we are Christians is the second scripture of the day – our love for other Christians. This love will include tangible ways of meeting one another’s temporal needs, but it will have its greatest manifestation in spiritual things. And the questions to ask along these lines are these – When given opportunities to be with God’s people in His Word, prayer, and worship, do we seize them or easily replace them with worldly events and gatherings? True Christians will not choose the latter. They love God’s Word, prayer and worship too much to substitute worldliness for them. Another question to ask in seeking assurance of salvation through our love for God people is – Would we rather be in a circle of Christ-centered believers or in the company of worldly people, even unsaved family members? Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying “neglect your family”, but spiritually minded Christians want the company of spiritually minded Christians more than worldly-minded people. Such desire is of the Lord and that leads to assurance. Yes, we will know our adoption by the Lord by our love for His people.

So how do we know? How do we have a settled assurance of our salvation? By the witness of God’s Word, not our feelings, and especially toward our involvement in people – those in need and those in the family of God.

PRAYER: “Father, deepen my assurance I am Your child by my love for the least of these and Your people.”

QUOTE: “A consistent love for people, the hurting and those in the family of God, is a mark of being a Christian.”