Devotional - The Blessed Assurance

I was born around noon!

The Blessed Assurance
The Westminster Confession declares, "Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him for ever."

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
—Revelation 21:4-5

This is my hope. This is my assurance! This is what keeps me going! I've confronted sorrow. I've seen hurt. I've been wronged in my lifetime. And all the more I reflect upon the man most wronged of all. Jesus Christ! He was betrayed by those closest to Him. His people, they crucified Him! He was scourged and afflicted! He suffered for me! I put those stripes on His back! Sinners put those afflictions and wounds upon Him! He died and yet He rose again!!! And what sinful man intended for evil, God used for good (Isa. 53:4-6). Christ declares, in John 11:25, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live."

May God Lift Me Up in Paths of Righteousness
I don't deserve God's grace, and all the more I ask Him to plead my cause, and to fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler, O Lord! And say to my soul, I am your Salvation (Psalm 35:1-3).

My hope and prayer is that God would lift me up in paths of righteousness for His namesake. I pray that God would deliver me from the will of my adversary, from those who would tempt me, and those that would lead me astray.

I need to take heed to the Word all the more, and become imbued with an eternal perspective.

How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word. With my whole heart I have sought You; Oh, let me not wander from Your commandments! Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. Blessed are You, O LORD! Teach me Your statutes. With my lips I have declared All the judgments of Your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, As much as in all riches. I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word.
—Psalm 119:9-16

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