Fully Confident

ByJim Stephens

Reading: 2 Corinthians 5; Proverbs 2

6 So we are always confident, even though we know that as long as we live in these bodies we are not at home with the Lord. 7 For we live by believing and not by seeing. 8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6-8 NLT)

Paul lived with the danger of persecution, imprisonment, and death always on the edge of his field of view. He worked hard, and served at great personal sacrifice. Paul was motivated by the call and life-purpose he had received from the risen Jesus Christ.

And Paul lived confidently. He was confident that the God he served was the God of earth and heaven, and that his promises were good in the next life as well as this one, and that he had the power to keep his word.

If my values are centered on my health, personal comfort, material prosperity, and the approval of others, I will not live like Paul – always confident, fully confident. If I live now for my Master, the Lord Christ, and live in full expectation that my ultimate reward lies in the next world, not this one, I can begin to approach Paul’s way of living.

1 For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. 2 We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. 3 For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies. 4 While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it’s not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. 5 God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (2 Corinthians 5:1-5 NLT)

Friends, let’s live with an “Always Confident, Fully Confident” faith in Jesus Christ!

Prayer:

Father, I’m challenged today by Paul’s example. My confidence level so often looks like a roller-coaster ride at an amusement park. And that’s not amusing! Help me to learn to live like Paul, by believing and not by seeing, always confident, fully confident. May I live always confident, fully confident, in you and your good promises. Amen!