Everyday people place their confidence in things. For example when we cross a bridge we have confidence it will hold up and not fall down. Everyday we put confidence in people. Children place their confidence in their parents. As they get older they might place confidence in their peers or in pop stars or sports stars. And young people are often told they need to have confidence in themselves. But the truth is that many of these things and people we place our confidence in let us down. So what can we rely on?
The only safe place for our confidence is in the truth. The world would want to tell us there are many paths to God, many truths. Don’t be fooled. There is one way only – the way that God provided in His Son. Jesus said ‘I am the way, and the truth and the life.’ He is not a way. He is the only way. Not one truth. Jesus is the only truth. Jesus is the only way to life eternal. ‘No-one comes to the Father but through me,’ John 14:6.
Paul tells the Philippians and us that to rejoice in the Lord for that ‘is a safeguard’ for them and for us, Philippians 3:1. That is where our confidence needs to be – in Jesus, the one who will never let us down. Paul warns of those however who are teaching something different. He refers to them as ‘dogs,’ and as ‘evil workers,’ Philippians 3:2. So much for being tolerant and non judgmental and accepting of all! Paul would have none of that. Not when the truth is at stake. Not when people’s lives at stake.
Paul had plenty of reason to put his confidence in his background and upbringing, in what he had been taught under Jewish law, to put his confidence in the fact that he was a Jew- one of God’s chosen people. But he knew better. He knew confidence placed in these things is misplaced confidence.
Keeping rules and laws would not, could not save him. Only faith in Jesus could do that. Only faith in Jesus can save you and me. Our confidence needs to be in Jesus – not in church traditions, rules and regulations or in doing good but in Jesus.
Join me next time for some more help from the book of Philippians.
Bible verses from the New American Standard Version
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