No Confidence
No Confidence
“Who put no confidence in the flesh” Phil 3:3b
Recently I read a devotional that spoke about Phil. 3:3. One of the quotes from the devotional said this, “The measure of true spirituality is in contrast to those who put confidence in some self-effort.” I read this the day after I found myself meditating on a message I once heard from Allistar Beggs about Gideon. He was speaking of the men who, in his words, “stuck their heads in a bucket and drank like dogs”. God chose those men to help Gideon. His point was that “self reliance stinks”. Have you ever had God place the same thought before you several days in a row? You hear a message, then you read a verse, and then someone shares the same idea with you and you realize, “God must be trying to get my attention”. I won’t share why I believe God was specifically speaking to my heart about self reliance but I will share with you humbly, that when Paul says “no confidence” he truly means none at all. Any confidence that we have in our flesh is less confidence that we are placing in God. Listen to another quote from my devotional, “This is what destroys human life. Self-confidence is not intended to be our strength, but rather it's to be our confidence in God. We were intended to face life recognizing we are weak, ineffectual, and unable, that it might drive us back upon the one who is totally adequate, and can be our total strength. This is the way God intended us to live. Therefore, the spirit of self-confidence is the most deadly lie that has ever been perpetrated upon the human race.” That is pretty strong. It needs to be because our whole life we are taught, even by some preachers, that we must believe in ourselves. Trouble is, every time I trust in what I think is good, apart from the Word of God, I make things worse.
I do not walk around like a helpless puppy, I have great confidence in the work that God is doing in and through me. His strength, his power, and his wisdom gives me great confidence to live a life of courage. David had great confidence in the work of God in his life when he stood up to Goliath. God had saved him from wild animals and he would save him from Goliath. Daniel trusted, not in his own wisdom, but in the wisdom of God. God used him mightily in a wicked government. Peter trusted Jesus and walked on water...for a while. And that is my problem. This side of heaven, I struggle with trusting completely. I often go back to trusting my own flesh. But God is patient. He does not quickly rebuke me. He often protects me from the consequences of my lack of trust. And he speaks to me through his word and reminds me often...place no confidence in the flesh. Today is another day to work on that truth.
“Who put no confidence in the flesh” Phil 3:3b
Recently I read a devotional that spoke about Phil. 3:3. One of the quotes from the devotional said this, “The measure of true spirituality is in contrast to those who put confidence in some self-effort.” I read this the day after I found myself meditating on a message I once heard from Allistar Beggs about Gideon. He was speaking of the men who, in his words, “stuck their heads in a bucket and drank like dogs”. God chose those men to help Gideon. His point was that “self reliance stinks”. Have you ever had God place the same thought before you several days in a row? You hear a message, then you read a verse, and then someone shares the same idea with you and you realize, “God must be trying to get my attention”. I won’t share why I believe God was specifically speaking to my heart about self reliance but I will share with you humbly, that when Paul says “no confidence” he truly means none at all. Any confidence that we have in our flesh is less confidence that we are placing in God. Listen to another quote from my devotional, “This is what destroys human life. Self-confidence is not intended to be our strength, but rather it's to be our confidence in God. We were intended to face life recognizing we are weak, ineffectual, and unable, that it might drive us back upon the one who is totally adequate, and can be our total strength. This is the way God intended us to live. Therefore, the spirit of self-confidence is the most deadly lie that has ever been perpetrated upon the human race.” That is pretty strong. It needs to be because our whole life we are taught, even by some preachers, that we must believe in ourselves. Trouble is, every time I trust in what I think is good, apart from the Word of God, I make things worse.
I do not walk around like a helpless puppy, I have great confidence in the work that God is doing in and through me. His strength, his power, and his wisdom gives me great confidence to live a life of courage. David had great confidence in the work of God in his life when he stood up to Goliath. God had saved him from wild animals and he would save him from Goliath. Daniel trusted, not in his own wisdom, but in the wisdom of God. God used him mightily in a wicked government. Peter trusted Jesus and walked on water...for a while. And that is my problem. This side of heaven, I struggle with trusting completely. I often go back to trusting my own flesh. But God is patient. He does not quickly rebuke me. He often protects me from the consequences of my lack of trust. And he speaks to me through his word and reminds me often...place no confidence in the flesh. Today is another day to work on that truth.
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