* The provisions of God in our past,
* The presence of God in our present and
* The promises of God in our future.
A reflection on these truths indeed leads to blessed assurance!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
Born of the Spirit, washed in His blood.”
The message from this hymn text is one that is such a blessing to hide deep in our hearts; a musical expression of praise and glory to God for His work of salvation in our lives. Fanny Crosby writes about the assurance Christ gives us due to His redemptive work in our lives here on earth and a foretaste of the glorious rejoicing that will take place through all eternity.
In today’s text from the book of Hebrews we read a wonderful phrase, “Full assurance of faith”. What a great blessing this full assurance is. Assurance, which not a commonly used word apart from theology, comes from the word assure which in turn comes from the word, sure. It speaks of the certainty of our salvation “with no doubt as to our acceptance when coming to God by the blood of Christ” (Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary). Clarke’s commentary states, “Being fully persuaded that God will accept us for the sake of his Son, and that the sacrificial death of Christ gives us full authority to expect every blessing we need.”
There is surely a sound Biblical basis for Fanny Crosby’s song. It’s one of the greatest blessings of life to have a full assurance of faith. May the Lord fill your heart with His blessed assurance today regardless of what you are going through.
Be encouraged today,
Stephen & Brooksyne Weber
Daily prayer: Father, as heirs of Your salvation, we have been purchased with the sacrificial blood of Your precious Son, Jesus. He gave His all that we might be saved from the eternal consequences of sin and have our names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. We have the blessed assurance that we are redeemed from sin and saved for eternity in heaven. Thank You for such wondrous love and abundant provision on our behalf. Amen.
Brooksyne at the Fanny Crosby tombstone in Bridgeport, Connecticut
Fanny Crosby is buried at the Mountain Grove Cemetery along I-95 in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The cemetery was designed by the famous circus founder PT Barnum. In fact his monument is very near that of Fanny Crosby’s.
On a small, very weathered stone at the foot of the grave that we assume to be the original tombstone we read these words, “Aunt Fanny – She hath done what she could.” Although blinded shortly after her birth she faithfully served the Lord. She overcame her disability to leave a lasting impact for Christ. She once shared this remarkable outlook, “It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me.”
Daily Encouragement 