"No Doubt" December 10 Readings: Amos 8-9, 1 John 5, Psalm 139:13–19, Proverbs 30:10

 

 Through the Bible in 2021

Bible Readings: Amos 8-9, 1 John 5, Psalm 139:13–19, Proverbs 30:10   

Daily Devotional: No Doubt 

We live in a world of moral uncertainty in which it is considered normal and honorable to be unsure of truth, where it is a sign of intelligence to admit you're uncertainty and doubt. No one knows what is right and wrong, no absolute standard. The only wrong is to assert that one is right, the only evil is to identify someone else's beliefs or actions as evil.

John said much in this letter about love - the love of God and the love we are to have for one another in the Body of Christ. It is easy for us to confuse love with a tolerance for sin and false doctrine that is actually destructive to the Body Christ died to redeem and sanctify. And in his concluding words, he made it very clear that we need not live in doubt. We need not waver between opinions or wonder if we've chosen the right way.

We can live with spiritual confidence that will offend our world!

Years ago I wrote an article in the Cedar Rapids Gazette defending our denomination's announcement that we would be making a special effort in Chicago to witness to Jewish people about the saving grace of Christ. I pointed out that the church began by telling Jewish people that their Messiah had come and our commitment had not changed. Jesus Christ is the Savior of the Gentile, the Jew, the Muslim - every person on earth. A man (a Baptist from another, more liberal group) wrote a letter to the editor excoriating me for my hubris and arrogance. How dare I say that Jesus is the only way! How could I be so certain that my way was the only right way?

But according to John, we can know! We are not meant to live in doubt and uncertainty. Look at verse 13, written to those who believe, who have faith in Jesus Christ.

I have written these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.

We are supposed to KNOW that we have eternal life. Know! How many times have you talked to someone about whether they would go to heaven and they answered, "I hope so." NO! We are meant to KNOW SO, not hope so. If you "hope so" you are trusting in yourself, hoping you do enough and don't mess up. But when we trust in Christ and his finished work we can know that we have eternal life. 

Verses and 11 and 12 made it absolutely clear what the basis for our confidence is. 

And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. The one who has the Son has life. The one who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

Are we arrogant? No! We are confident, not in ourselves but in Christ. We placed our faith in Christ and there is life in him. He who has the Son has life - it's as simple as that. If you don't have the Son you don't have life, but you live under the wrath of God. 

Do not live in doubt and uncertainty about your eternal destiny, but in confidence - not because of who you are but because of Christ! He is life and we are his! If you have him (by faith) you have life. It's as simple as that. 

This kind of confidence will drive the world crazy but it gives a peace that passes understanding!

Thank you, Lord for the peace that comes from knowing Christ and knowing that in HIM we have life - life eternal and life abundant!

Consider God's Word:

Which of the readings spoke most powerfully to you today?
Is the Spirit of God moving you to repent of something you are doing, to begin something new, or to change something about your life as a result of your readings? What?

Do you live in doubt and fear, because your confidence rests in yourself?

Or do you rest in Christ and his eternal work on your behalf?