A Fully Assured Faith

"Today's Devotion" For June 19, 2006

Read: Hebrews 10:19-25; Psalm 116

A FULLY ASSURED FAITH

"Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith...Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." (Hebrews 10:22a, 23)

Have you ever made a promise you couldn't keep? No doubt most of us have. I can remember my father telling me that if I made a promise I was obligated to keep it and that I should never make a promise I couldn't or didn't intend to keep. Most likely, my dad wasn't the only father to give such advice to his children. I'm grateful that, to the best of my knowledge and memory, my dad never made a promise to me he didn't keep - at least if it was in his power to do so (sometimes, as we all know, exigent circumstances beyond one's control do keep even the best intentioned promises from being kept).

One of the blessings I received growing up was having a father in whom I could place a lot of trust. He said what he meant and he meant what he said. As a small child I was absolutely convinced he could do no wrong. Yet, as I grew older and learned more about life, I began to realize that this man I so fully trusted was also fallible and could make mistakes. I remember times where he didn't fully listen to a situation and the circumstances surrounding an issue (in my opinion) and disciplined me even though I was innocent (at least in my own mind). Yet, no matter what, I always knew he loved me and only wanted the best for me.

What still strikes me today, a day after Father's Day, is that my dad is and always has been (as long as I've known him) a person of integrity, faithful to his wife and family, faithful to his God and Savior, and faithful in service to others. He would be the first to tell you that, even with all these superlatives I've shared, he is a simple, fallible, sinful man who recognizes each day his sinfulness before God and daily repents of that sin and receives, with joy, his heavenly Father's forgiveness. And, while I no longer consider my dad to be infallible, as I did as a child, nor the complete storehouse of wisdom and knowledge that he seemed to be when I was younger, I still see him as a faithful example to me of my heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness as he lives it in his own life. (And, let me add, as a marvelous example of what it means to be a faithful, Christian father.)

It cannot be doubted that there are many people around the world who can't lay claim to such an experience with their fathers as I have had in my life. Way too many people (and perhaps you are one of them) have had father's who didn't care, didn't love, didn't forgive, and didn't provide any positive example that was and is a reflection of our heavenly Father's love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Yet, all of us can turn our faces toward our Father in heaven and trust that He loves us, is faithful in His promises, and continues to bless us with His presence every day. His forgiveness of our sins in Jesus is sure and certain.

We can be sure, without any doubt or fear in our hearts, that God's plan of salvation in Jesus is available to all and is for all who believe. By the power of God's Word and Spirit, all who believe in Jesus as their Savior and Lord can be certain that theirs is a fully assured faith - God is faithful and He keeps His promises, even in the face of the worst sins committed by His children. His grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness in Jesus is ours today and every day by faith. Our faith in Jesus is a fully assured faith and we can be certain that our Father in heaven will keep us safely in His arms as He leads us home to heaven.

Prayer: Father, in a world where it's so hard to trust people to do what's right and to care about others, Your faithfulness and love for me in Jesus is a breath of fresh air and a confidence builder. While I all too often look for answers to my problems and challenges in all kinds of different places, I know, deep in my heart, that if I bring them to You, You will not only take those burdens off my shoulders but You will show me the way to go that is go and pleasing to You. Forgive me, Father, for ever doubting Your love and faithfulness to me. Your promises are always sure and certain, which You confirm for me each day as I read Your Word and remember my Baptism. Strengthen my faith and trust in You each day as Jesus takes me by the hand and shows me Your love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness. Keep me in a fully assured faith that I may be a true and living witness and example of Your love and forgiveness in Christ to others. And, Father, I also pray for both my dad, and all the other fathers in the world, that You would touch their hearts and lives so they might be living examples of what You are as the Father of all. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.
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--Pastor Boeck

Copyright © 2006 The Rev. Richard J. Boeck, Jr. All rights reserved.