How Do We KNOW That "We-Know-That-We-Know!"...?

HOW DO WE KNOW THAT "WE-KNOW-THAT-WE-KNOW!".....?

"Ye are my friends -if- ye do whatsoever I command you."-Jn 15:14

You've heard it - (we've all heard it)! Someone stands up & testifies, "I know that I know that I know!". Somehow we're all a little nonplused! But what about verification, assurance, validation, guaranteed proof? Is there any "room" for such authentications where faith is required?

Some people believe if we had faith enough, there would be no need for such evidences! Others actually promote "blind faith"! The fact that faith is precisely the opposite of blindness (spiritual "eyes & ears") is, somehow, amazingly overlooked!

Well then, what about it? Are we out of line needing, expecting & wanting assurances about things we purport to have faith in?

I Jn 2:3 "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." John thought to re-assure us by telling us how to know that we know that we know! And again in I Jn 2:5 "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him."

But knowing is not all that's required; Peter was determined to remind us of what we knew we knew: II Pt 1:12,13 "Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance;"

Why would we need reminding of that which we already know?; to stir us up! Hmmmmm. It must be said that the "good works" which faith does is to prove what it knows! FAITH PROVES GOD! Another way of looking at it is that Faith demonstrates (does!) what Love illustrates (says!)!

But Jesus too commented on this subject; Jn 15:3 "Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you." Jn 13:8-10 "Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: ..."

This world is filthy with PRIDEFUL-UNBELIEF! Is it any wonder we need to "walk shod with the Gospel of Peace"? Is it any wonder that (even so) we will continue to require routine and consistent foot-washing ministrations from our Lord? As we clearly see in this proud picture of Peter, it is a humbling thing to be Served by the very One we seek to serve!

But such reminders "stir" our Faith and provide re-Assurance of just how much we Love Him! Only Humility Serves, as only Faith sees! Familiarity is never a substitute for the Familial Bond of Love! Indeed, it has been said that "familiarity breeds contempt"!

But the Fruit of Love is a Humble, Contrite, Open & Responsive ("circumcised") heart, eyes & ears! Do we need assurances & "prods" to our Faith? God says we do! Therefore we too should "stir one another up to good" "PROOFS" ("works"), as well!

So let us wash each other's feet as Jesus taught by washing ours, and prove the Hope which is our Faith in Christ! Then will the world know that we know what it cannot know (without Christ) - that God so Loves us that .......