Assurance

I've been thinking a lot about assurance lately (mostly on the fact that I seem to have less of it than I used to), but I had some questions.

Assurance - true assurance is good, false assurance is bad - all agreed. Assurance also given as a gift of God. But should we seek assurance? If so, how? I have a friend that wanted to always pray for someone else to have more assurance. Good or bad?

Not having assurance, this seems to always be a result of sin, but is it necessarily sinful of itself? Kind of like how conflict is the result of sin, but conflict may not be sinful in itself, as Christ had a lot of conflict with the Pharisees. Is a lack of assurance the same thing? Or is it like holiness, that to actually lack it is sinful?

Finally, on a positive remark, I remember what David Jones pointed out to us after a servant leadership meeting, that assurance isn't just something that we look to when we're struggling with sin and need encouragement, but it's something to look to when it seems we're victorious and we need to remain humble.

Luke 10

17 The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” 18 And he said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you. 20 Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Have a good thanksgiving all. I miss you all a great deal, Lord willing I can get off my slothful rear eventually and visit some of you on campus!