Although a lot about me has changed since becoming a Christian, to this day, the most notable change was inside. I can remember my thoughts before knowing Christ. They were self-centered in an absolute sense. Now, all Christians will struggle with self-centeredness. It’s not something that’s going to completely go away. But before coming to Christ, there was no struggle. All streams of thought led back to me.

It was after believing that I changed. The shift was subtle, but far reaching. As a Christian, the self-centeredness I will always have to fight, is now naturally swimming with a concern for other people, regardless of what benefit it might bring me.

After a discussion with an old friend the other night, I was thinking about the topic of assurance. Having confidence that we are numbered with the redeemed. It’s something we’re taught to find in the fruit of our life. If we are Christians, is it manifested somewhere? That’s where all these thoughts collide.

1 John 3:14:

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love, abides in death.”

Of course, this passage doesn’t nutshell everything I’ve just said. But the idea is represented.

When we shift from death into new life, the most notable change will be love. We’re all going to continue to struggle in various ways and to various degrees depending on where and through what God is leading us. But love will surely be present and it will guide more of us than we think. And I think there’s assurance in that.