CHRIST-CONFIDENCE

(Pastor Nathan has been asked to write a series of devotions on Jeremiah 17:5-8 for a future edition of the Meditations devotion book. This is the fourth of six devotions on Jeremiah 17:5-8.)

But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. (Jeremiah 17:7)

Self-confidence is a fickle thing. Some people are very confident in front of other people. They make proud boasts. Yet, when they are alone by themselves, they feel insecure and insignificant. Other people are very confident when they are alone. They make bold promises in private, but when they are in front of other people, they falter and flounder. Does one of those describe you? Self-confidence is a fickle thing.

That’s why God wants to give you something better. Not self-confidence. Christ-confidence! The blessed believer’s confidence isn’t found in themselves. The blessed believer’s confidence is in Christ.

I am weak, and so are you, but God is strong. How does that make us? Confident in Christ. I am sinful and deceitful, but God is perfect and true. How does that make us? Confident in Christ. I can’t save myself, and you can’t either, but God has sent his Son to save us. How does that make us? Confident in Christ. In our baptisms, God made us his own children. He promises that every time we hear his Word, he strengthens us. That every time we take the Lord’s Supper, our sins are washed away. That every time we pray to him, he hears us. How does that make us? Confident in Christ.

What does that look like? A blessed believer finds his or her identity in Christ, for “see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” (1 John 3:1). A blessed believer is motivated by Christ’s love, for “Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died” (2 Corinthians 5:14). A blessed believer is filled with God’s Word. “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another” (Colossians 3:16). A blessed believer is confident in the Means of Grace, for “‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead’” (Luke 16:31). A blessed believer is a victor in Christ, for “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

Self-confidence is fickle, but Christ-confidence is powerful. When you focus your eyes on the Lord, the unfailing grace of God gives you confidence in every situation of life. What kind of confidence? The blessed believer has Christ-confidence!

Dear Lord God, if you are for me, who can be against me? Forgive my fickle heart for seeking confidence in myself and fill me with the true confidence that comes from Christ and his salvation. Amen.

Pastor Nathan