When I was twenty-four, I asked Christ to be my Lord. God's Spirit convicted me to get rid of some of my books and music. I quit using "Good Lord!" as a vain expletive, and I recognized my sins and wanted to change. Even though I was pregnant and busy caring for my eighteen-month-old, I found time to read my Bible.
In 1 Thessalonians 1:4-10 Paul explains why he knows that the Thessalonians were genuinely saved:
“For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction… You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers… You turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.”
Let's unpack this passage:
If you haven't experienced these things in your faith, seek God in prayer, find Bible-based fellowship, and begin reading your Bible daily.*
If you're unsure of your salvation or if you've never personally asked Christ to be your Lord, I encourage you to read:
These resources are also useful if you are witnessing to a friend.
Thankyou for this. I came to Christ a year ago this week (had been attending church for 5 months prior as well but not convicted) when my husband was undergoing surgery for a rare pancreatic cancer. During song worship I couldn't contain my emotion and I cried the whole way through just feeling the Lord within me. I knew He had protected my husband as his cancer was rare and rarely found so early to actually be cured by surgery (less than 2% of cases are found within the surgery success time limit) but since then i have often questioned my salvation wondering if i am truly saved because certain aspects of my life and self havent changed overnight. Knowing that it is possible that my salvation is ongoing and not instant is a comfort because satan regularly gives me thoughtsof failure and puts in my mind ideas that nond of my church family believe im a true christian. He certainly relishes in my fear of man i am sure of it. My point is that in my heart I know that Jesus is with me and by his grace I am saved but I sometimes think why am I not like such a person they are much more godly than I am and other such thoughts. God bless xxx
ReplyDeleteYes, Michelle, it is a process, and it's a different process for each individual. But I encourage you to seek God with all of your heart because the benefits are wonderful!!
DeleteGod bless you.