1 John, Day 9

Scripture: 1 John 5:1-15

Observation: John reminds us that when we put our faith in Jesus, we become a child of God – meaning that nothing can defeat us. He explains that the Spirit, water, and blood prove that Jesus is Christ our Lord. He finishes by reminding us that if we believe in Jesus, we have been given the gift of eternal life.

Application: On the scale of risk taker to caution seeker, where would you rate yourself? While I fantasize about being a wild and adventurous risk taker, the truth is I’m much more comfortable in the cautious crowd. (True story: If a food has a “use by” date, I refuse to eat it even one day after the “use by” date. I’m not taking that kind of chance.)

You know when I become even more conscientious and careful? When things feel particularly chaotic or confusing or downright #crazy, I’m as cautious as they come, often paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong decision. More than anything, I want assurance.

Even for those of us who are more risky than careful (people who drink expired milk, I’m looking at you!), we all want assurance on some level – the guarantee that things will work out with our spouses and our siblings, security in our jobs or our business deals, certainty about the future. Assurance provides safety and security and a peaceful comfort.

Unfortunately, assurance is pretty hard to find in this world sometimes, isn’t it? We can’t see the future, and we’ve all learned the hard way that a “sure thing” is never really a “sure thing.”

There is, however, one thing we can be sure of: when we put our faith in Jesus, we are filled with life.

John puts it like this in verses 11-12:

“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life.”  

We have a holy assurance – the promise that when we give our lives to Jesus, he gives us so much more than we could ever imagine and immeasurably more than we deserve. He fills us with his Spirit and promises us eternal life, a guarantee that this life – with its pain and problem – isn’t all there is.

We must stop looking for assurance in the things of this world. Where are you looking for assurance when you need to be looking towards God? What are you obsessed with, addicted to, willing to do anything for? Who do you look to first before you look to God? Refuse to make God your second choice answer. Recognize that anytime you look towards anyone or anything else besides God for answers, you’re separating yourself from the one who created you, who loves you, who promises you the hope and love and security that you can never find in this world.

He brings life.

When life is crazy, when things fall apart, when we don’t know what to do, when we’re not sure who we can trust, when we’re battered and broken – he is our forever assurance.  

Prayer: God, thank you for your holy assurance, for providing a certainty and security that I crave in this life. I pray I’ll turn away from anyone or anything I’m looking to for answers and assurance and instead, place my full faith in you alone. Amen.

Digging Deeper:

• Is there anyone or anything in your life that you look to for answers before you look to God? If so, confess this to God, repent, and continue to turn your eyes towards him.
• What do you really need assurance about right now? Be open with God about your worries and fears and ask him to intervene.