Sitting on the ground, she rocked quietly with her arms wrapped tightly around her knees pulled up to her chest. 

Her husband didn’t know how to help her in that vulnerable moment.

She was uncomfortable about the true character of her relationship with God and had lost her peace.

As she talked it out, it became clear that she was wrestling because the faith she professed was out of alignment with how she was choosing to live. 

Now it was bothering her.

But it was encouraging to me. Here’s why.

She wasn’t seeing the fruit and power of God’s Spirit in her life and was ready to take her faith more seriously. She needed assurance that a mere profession couldn’t produce.

Paul spoke directly to this issue in 1 Thes. 1:4-5.

He was able to discern the genuineness of their conversion, not only by what they professed, but by how the gospel had taken possession of their lives (v. 6-10).

Paul could see it. And they did too. There was power resulting from their profession that produced assurance.

When we attempt to conflate our faith with what appeals to our culture our credibility suffers and the gospel becomes hidden (2 Cor. 4:1-4).

It could even become dishonest.

But when we choose to live our faith evidentially and boldly (not belligerently) throughout the normal course of our day, people start to believe that we believe (2 Cor. 4:5-7).

When that happens, we can expect a greater sense of assurance.

Right beliefs about the gospel are essential. But a life that hides what the gospel is and does will leave us unexamined and therefore unassured.

It might be good to visit these two passages occasionally (Phil 2:12-16, 2 Cor. 13:4-5).

Challenging words. But if they leave us rocking with our knees tightly against our chest, they’re doing their intended work.

A life that is true to Christ is a life that stands the tests of scrutiny (1 Th. 1:5). It invites honest examination.

Even your own. 

The believers in Thessalonica had a busy life. They had family responsibilities, jobs, homes, to-do lists and all the first-century modern conveniences to save them time!

Yet, they also lived an evidential faith that impacted others. We can too. It doesn’t have to be scheduled; it just has to be sincere.

I think it’s worth asking – not to produce guilt or shame – but to cause a little self-examination: How would others know that I am a genuine follower of Jesus Christ?

And what makes me so sure that I am?

If a question like this makes you uncomfortable it might be a good thing. Let’s talk it out.

When we determine to live a credible witness that points to Jesus, we can expect God to empower it and give us the confidence to ask for even more (1 John 5:10-15, Luke 11:13).

1 Th. 1:5 is a good place to start: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.”

I’d love to hear your thoughts about this. Reply and let me know or jump into our community space and get the conversation started.

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