God my Father,
I confess that I have not obeyed you as I ought;
I have not obeyed you because
I have not loved your Word as I ought;
I have not loved your Word because
I have not loved you as I ought.

I want to love you,
but I am too easily lost in the world that is myself—
I have believed that I possess righteousness
because I am righteous;
I have believed that I possess wisdom
because I am wise;
I have become great in my own eyes.

O, shine the light of your truth into my black heart!
Let me never forget
that my righteousness is as filthy rags,
that it is you who gives faith,
that it is you who grants repentance.

Stir the embers of my affections,
so they may not grow cold and die.
Fuel them to a roaring flame,
until the heat is felt by those around me.
Let me know the sweetness of fellowship with you.
Let me know you, that I may love you.

emptation called—she called my name;
’Twas nothing new, but just the same
Enticing call with promise sweet,
“Come taste my wine,” she did entreat.

I sought the source of that sweet voice—
It seemed as though I had no choice.
Although I searched, I found her not,
But found the pleasure she had brought.

I smelled the scent of her perfume
That lingered there inside my room.
I drank the wine that she had mixed,
Though it was sweet, I was perplexed.

I sought companionship to share
Forbidden pleasure, fine and fair,
But promised company had flown
And left me guilty, and alone.

The wine that I had drunk in haste
Soon left a bitter aftertaste;
Perfume so sweet, the scent of rose,
Began a-burning in my nose.

Who was this temptress who beguiled,
Who my conscience had defiled?
Who had done this thing to me?
I would search, and find, and see!

I looked around out in the dark—
Perhaps a devil there did lurk!
I searched the streets all through the town;
My nemesis could not be found.

And then I heard her voice again:
“Come home, come home, you’ll find me then.
I’ve been here waiting. Don’t delay!
Come to my side, and with me stay.”

I came back home, there to seek
The evil one who made me weak.
There! ’twas the voice! It seemed to call
Out from the glass upon the wall.

How can this be? I thought with fear,
Who can it be? There’s no one here!
I stilled my heart, prepared to see,
Looked in the glass—saw only me.

But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. —James 1:14

Blessèd assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood.

I was sampling some music by a country musician I won’t name here, and came across a couple of religious albums he has produced. I’m always a bit cynical of these things, as I see celebrities sing hymns one minute and songs about adultery and drunkenness the next. But that’s a tangent for another day. As I was listening, I heard the song Blessed Assurance. It’s not a great song, but it’s not horrible, either.

The first verse, quoted above, is probably the best part of the song. It almost captures the essence of our salvation in beautiful language. Purchased of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood, we are heirs of salvation, and our blessed assurance of that salvation certainly is a foretaste of the divine glory of Heaven.

Yet I say it “almost captures the essence of our salvation” because, while Jesus is mine, that is not the fact upon which my assurance rests. My assurance of salvation is in the knowledge that I am his. There is nothing I have that I cannot lose, and that would include my salvation if it depended on me. But Jesus loses no one, and nothing can be taken from him. I was given to him by the Father, and I am assured that I will be kept and raised up on the last day. My salvation is guaranteed, not because he is mine, but because I am his.

Blessed assurance, I belong to Christ!

God, I thirst for you; I long to be in your presence.
Surely, you have not forgotten me!
Lift up my downcast soul; still the turmoil within me.
Let the roar of your waterfalls thunder in my ears;
   and let me be immersed in you
      as your waves break over me.

I praise you for your steadfast love,
   and the song you have given me—
      a prayer to you, the God of my life.

Praise you, O Lord,
   my rock,
   my salvation,
   my God.