We can confess confidence in self or any other source; but at the end of the day, only our honest confession of total confidence in Christ our LORD by faith will bring the genuine peace of God.
RELEVANCE
Paul had every reason to put his confidence in his flesh. He learned through the experience of his relationship with Almighty God that in Christ alone is it wise to place total trust and confidence. In His trust is the true peace of God. Paul learned it’s a matter of life and death.
“Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Romans 5:1-2).
People often wonder– how do I access God’s grace? What elements of grace can I tap into? The answer to the former question is by asking. Pray as if you totally depend on God. Submit to God and worship in spirit and truth. Have faith that He will reveal His strength in you through the Holy Spirit.
The answer to the second question is a lot! His grace is infinite. What grace do you need? God told Moses His name was “I AM.” Truly He is who you need Him to be! We just need to let Him be all we need and not trust in our own righteousness.
“For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh….But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead” (Philippians 3:3-11).
REFLECT AND RELATE
What do you think it takes to come to the confession of faith that Paul exhibits?
What next step can you take to grow in such manner?
REFERENCES
Acts 22:1-25:27