July 01 – Confidence In What or Who?

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Confidence is good, especially when we have confidence in the outcome of a project we’re doing. When asked if we can take on a job and finish it correctly we say, “I’m confident I can.” But there are times when our confidence is not as strong as we need. In our verse Paul declares his confidence; not in himself, or in the Philippians, but in God. Paul is confident that what God starts in our lives, He will see that they will complete it. Some versions like the one we use here today (NASB) say that God who began a good work will 'perfect it.' The (ESV) promises that when God who began a good work in us will 'bring it to completion.' The (KJV) uses the promise 'will perform.' The word in the original Greek is used in only this verse and in Galatians 3:3. It has all these meanings; complete, accomplish, perfect. Our confidence is placed in Christ Jesus when we take on the tasks He gives us. What we have been called to do, God promises to be with us to accomplish it through us. He will supply all our needs to do so.

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February 23 – Absolute Trust in Absolute Truth

“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus” - Philippians 1:6 (NASB)

Of what truth do you have such confidence that nothing and no one is able to dissuade you from your belief? A common crisis for many is the struggle to believe the promises of God. Especially that His care for them and their lives are untouchable by the enemy. The good work, the good and blessed outcome promised by God will happen according to His promise in today’s verse. It’s a process. It takes time. In fact, it will take the rest of our earthly lives before God completes the good work He has begun in each of us. We can absolutely trust that absolute truth. 

Warren Wiersbe writes about the battle for God’s truth “God works in this world through the truth of His Word, and (our evil enemy) Satan opposes this truth by substituting his lies. Human nature is prone to believe a lie and resist the truth. Satan accomplishes his best work through people in so-called Christian institutions (churches, schools, etc.) who do not believe God’s truth.”*  Each time the truth of God is spoken, heard, read, and studied, the enemy uses lies to steal it away from us by tempting us to doubt God’s truth. 

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*Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 2:201.

December 7 - Pearl Harbor Day

"Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident." - Psalm 27:3 (NIV)

Consider today how we might react if suddenly we were under attack from a foreign country as it happened 78 years ago.  Our initial reaction would naturally be to fear what was next, to try to understand why it happened.  This psalm written by David was direct from his experiences of frequently being under attack from enemies outside and inside.  David knew of the promises God had given him and He has given to us as well.  Even when a war breaks out and threatens to destroy our lives, we can profess, as David did, that we are and will be confident in our Lord God.  Today is Pearl Harbor Day, observed in the United States.  It is the anniversary of the day that our country was attacked by the Emperor of Japan which dragged our country into World War II.  We can always know that even in these kind of extreme events, we can be confident in God and not be afraid.

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March 16 – Waiting With Confidence

“I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.”   Psalm 27:13-14 (NIV)

Not very often do we find ourselves eager to wait for anything.  Where ever we go and whatever we do, we want to be in the fast moving line, we want to get it done and be finished with it.  Our verse today tells us of a different way – it tells us that waiting can be good if we are waiting on God's promises to be fulfilled.  These words are an expression of faith in our Lord.  The psalmist expressed his confidence in the goodness of the Lord and we can do the same. God has been good to us as we have been living for Him and we can be sure that, as we trust Him, He will show us His goodness from day to day.  Then we read in the second verse that because of this confidence we can wait for the Lord to act because He has promised us that He will show us His love and His goodness. Waiting for God to act is a part of our faith in Him and His Words of Promise.  It is by waiting we learn to truly trust Him.  We also can be confident of this: God will show us His goodness as we take heart and strength from Him in our waiting in faith believing His word. 

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