With All Confidence

 

With All Confidence

Ephesians 3: God, who is the Creator of all things, kept his secret hidden through all the past ages, ¹⁰ in order that at the present time, by means of the church, the angelic rulers and powers in the heavenly world might learn of his wisdom in all its different forms. ¹¹ God did this according to his eternal purpose, which he achieved through Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² In union with Christ and through our faith in him we have the boldness to go into God's presence with all confidence. ¹³ I beg you, then, not to be discouraged because I am suffering for you; it is all for your benefit.

 

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Evaluating what I had done on the previous day, I could not think of a specific “sin” that warranted this type of disaster. Everything had gone wrong this particular day and I asked GOD, “What’s going on?” in a “Why me” sort of fashion.

 

• I thought I could control GOD by sinning less.
• I thought my sins would get a reaction out of GOD, causing HIM to punish me.
• I thought I was the cause of the disaster because maybe I overlooked a sin.

 

GOD’s plan was immense and hidden until JESUS was revealed. Paul wrote about this huge plan that was laid out and executed by GOD. Redemption happened through JESUS, making the impossible, possible. Sin could no longer stop anyone from going into GOD’s presence to ask for anything and to be forgiven.

 

My Observations

• GOD’s power is far greater than I can something “I” can harness.
• GOD’s wisdom is manifested in many forms I can see daily.
• GOD’s purpose cannot be stopped, even by some sins I do or not do.

 

Thinking I am in control of GOD makes me lose my confidence. I mean, When I want things to go a specific way, I may try to act “good” during the period of time I am seeking my desire. Unfortunately, if I get what I want, I sometimes forget that the blessing came from GOD and return to sinful ways.

 

BUT GOD saw this fickle behavior and added it to HIS plan, HE knew HE needed something fool proof. Redemption needed to be permanent and indestructible. When JESUS was raised from the dead, HE opened the door to the FATHER to anyone who will walk in. I am glad I can confidently go to the FATHER because of what JESUS did for me.

 

Challenge

• Who is the focus of the writer?
• Have you ever been discouraged, thinking you were the problem?
• Will you praise GOD for HIS eternal purpose and walk into HIS presence because JESUS made a way to HIM for you?

 

 

Cautious Confidence

Cautious Confidence

John 13: ³⁶ Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, where are You going?”

Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you shall follow Me afterward.”

³⁷ Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

³⁸ Jesus answered him, “Will you lay down your life for My sake? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times.

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“I will never do that again” I said in haste. I was so relieved to be out of the bad situation, so I exclaimed how I would “never” get back into the same problem. Maybe a day or so passed and I found myself tiptoeing around the thing that got me in trouble in the first place.

• There have been times when I was over confident in my ability to stay away from sin.
• There have been times when I was over confident in my ability to follow what GOD says I should be doing.
• There have been times when I just knew I would never sin again and be perfect for the rest of my life.

Peter was perplexed by JESUS’s words of leaving. “Where are YOU going LORD?” Peter inquired. JESUS had already explained that HE was going to die and be raised, so HE said “You will, in fact, follow ME, but not now.”  Peter in his zeal said “I am willing to lay down my life for YOU.” JESUS said “You will deny ME.”

• GOD wants me to be confident in HIS abilities, not mine.
• GOD wants me to understand that my Spirit is willing but my flesh is weak.
• GOD wants me to know there will be times when I will do what I do not want to do and other times when I will do what HE wants me to do.

Being excited about GOD is great. I mean HE cares for me and is the most powerful being there is. Siding with HIM can give me confidence that HE can resolve any situation I can get in. But my confidence needs to be proceeded with caution. I should also know that I am still a sinner who fights temptation daily. My confidence is in GOD’s forgiveness when I am weak.

• Do you have a lot of self-confidence?
• Do you like to control the situation because of your lack of confidence in others?
• Will you place less confidence in your abilities and more confidence in GOD’s love for you?