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Today's Scripture: And when he saw their faith… Luke 5:20, KJV. Today's Word: Do you know what moves the hand of God? This may surprise you, but God is not moved by complaining and self-pity. He’s not even moved by our needs. Yes, He is concerned about our needs; and yes, He wants to meet our needs, but we have to do our part and invite Him to work in our lives by exercising our faith. When Jesus walked the earth, oftentimes right before He healed someone, the Bible says, “When He saw their faith…” So I ask you today, can God see your faith? When God sees you doing everything you can to get well; when He sees you getting to work a little earlier because you really want that promotion; when He sees you bypass the cookie jar because you’ve been believing to lose weight; when He sees you bite your tongue to keep the peace in your house; when He sees you help others when you really need more help than they do; when God sees your faith, that’s when extraordinary things will begin to happen. Faith opens the door for God to move. So demonstrate your faith today and watch the hand of God move in every area of your life! Prayer for Today: Father, thank You for the gift of faith. I choose today to exercise my faith and let the world see that I’m trusting You. Keep me close to You. Search my heart and remove anything that is displeasing to You. I bless You today and always in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
How Do I Know I’m Saved?
by Rick Warren
“It is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)
Notice that he didn’t ask Jesus to stop his pain, although he would have been in excruciating pain on the cross. By that time, Jesus was famous for doing miracles, but the man didn’t ask Jesus to save him from death, either.
He said, “Jesus, remember me.” Why? Because he knew that his deepest need was salvation from sin — not just salvation to get into Heaven. He believed in Jesus.
The Bible says in Acts 16:31, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (NIV).
So how do you know for sure that you’re saved? How do you know you’re going to Heaven when you die? How can you be certain? How can you eliminate your doubt?
Your assurance of salvation is not by your works, because you can’t earn your salvation. Your assurance of salvation is not by your feelings, because feelings come and go.
What is your assurance of salvation? The promise of God’s Word. If God says it, that settles it, because God cannot lie. You can trust the promise of God’s Word. You can rest in it.
Jesus replied to the criminal hanging on the cross, “I assure you, today you will be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:43 NLT). Your assurance of salvation is the same: God’s promise that you will be in Heaven with him one day if you believe in faith.
Talk It Over
- How do you know you can trust the Bible and God’s promises?
- What are the things people try to add to salvation instead of accepting the simple promise of God’s Word?
- How should you live differently when you have assurance of salvation through Christ?
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