A Word from Philippians 3

What allows you to face the day with confidence? Now granted, the world is so crazy these days, you might feel like “confidence” is in short supply. But still, what factors and capacities allow you to feel good about who you are what you’re doing? Have you developed some “on the job” expertise? Do you feel like you’ve got a good handle on what’s happening in the world? Do you have friends who you’re pretty sure are going to be there for you? And do you have a faith that gives you a clear picture of what God wants you to do?

Well, listen. I hope you have all those things and more! But in today’s word from Philippians 3 (verses 1-14), Paul reminds us that there’s only source of true confidence. And after describing all the factors and capacities that he used to rely on to boost his self-assurance, he describes what that source is:

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What’s more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (3:7-11)

You see, true confidence is found in Jesus! In the knowledge that he loves us and that he’s paid the price for the forgiveness of our sins. In the joy of being conformed to his image in such a way that both his power and his willingness to lay down his life for others get reproduced in our lives.

So today, I pray that you’ll have that confidence. And even if you don’t feel it completely, I pray that you—like Paul—will “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called you heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (3:14) Amen.