March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024
Psalm 119:9-16; Isaiah 43:8-13; 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
Pause. Read. Be still. Pray.
Read: 2 Corinthians 3:4-11
This is the confidence that we have through Christ in the presence of God. It isn’t that we ourselves are qualified to claim that anything came from us. No, our qualification is from God. He has qualified us as ministers of a new covenant, not based on what is written but, on the Spirit, because what is written kills, but the Spirit gives life. The ministry that brought death was carved in letters on stone tablets. It came with such glory that the Israelites couldn’t look for long at Moses’ face because his face was shining with glory, even though it was a fading glory. Won’t the ministry of the Spirit be much more glorious? If the ministry that brought condemnation has glory, how much more glorious is the ministry that brings righteousness? In fact, what was glorious isn’t glorious now, because of the glory that is brighter. If the glory that fades away was glorious, how much more glorious is the one that lasts!
A young pastor was on a flight returning home after a long Church Conference when mid-flight, the ‘Fasten Your Seat Belt’ sign flashed on. A calming voice came over the PA system, asking for all passengers to return to their seats and fasten their seat belts. The voice continued, saying, we will be expecting a little turbulence ahead, so until we pass through the weather, we will suspend beverage services.
The pastor looked around the aircraft and saw that many of the passengers seemed a bit anxious. They passed through the storm, with cracks of thunder being heard above the roar of the engines. Lightning lit up the night’s sky, and within moments the turbulence could be felt.
The pastor looked around and noticed all the passengers were still feeling uneasy except for one little girl. She simply sat calmly, feet tucked under her, watching a movie on her iPad, oblivious of the turbulence and the anxious pastor around her. The storm blew over. When the plane landed and the passengers were exiting, the pastor approached the little girl and asked her why she was not afraid like the other passenger.
The little girl replied, “Cause my Daddy’s the Pilot and he’s my ride home.”
That’s confidence.
Be Still: What instills confidence in you. Or perhaps, the better question might be, what is the source of your confidence? Is it your family, upbringing, specific skills or talents, career, knowledge, or social status. When life is plugging away with great success, we feel good and confident in how things are going. When we face uncertainties or challenges in life, it is easy to doubt ourselves and our path, but this mindset is not of God. God is the one who has equipped us with the confidence we need. This confidence is not rooted in our own abilities or in the approval of others, but in God.
In these verses Paul speaks of the confidence we’re given in Christ alone. This is a profound reminder that our true competence is not of our own doing but comes from God. The Spirit brings life, empowering us to live in a way that pleases God, not through our own doing, but through God’s grace.
May you be encouraged to hold onto your confidence in God when the road is difficult and when the way is easy. Remember, it is not just about feeling sure of ourselves – it is being confident in God.
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the many ways you strengthen us in confidence to stand firm in our faith and let our hearts and minds be filled with the courage to persevere that only comes from you. Amen.
Pastor Kellie