being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

I Have Faith in You

I thought I had longed for someone to have faith in me.  I thought it would be good to have someone say, “I have faith in you.”  However, when they do, it seems empty.  I don’t have faith in them.  Their judgement seems flawed … human.  Paul has faith in the Philippians in a sense because his faith is not in them at all.  He knows that a flawless God has laid hold of them for a purpose.  The purpose is to rip away the false construction of self and success that we have in life and to build something more substantial.  In fact to reveal the eternity that God has set in the heart of man (Ecclesiastes 3:11).  What we will be is not yet known, but the one who is revealing it is faithful, powerful, and loving.  He created you with a blueprint that has been marred physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally by sin.  He wants his strength to shine through your weakness.  Because of this, I have faith in you, if you have committed your life to God.  He will make straight your crooked paths.  The end is certain because it doesn’t depend on you.

I was walking on Dartmoor and I had a compass that was broken.  It meant that I had to navigate off of the moor in the mist and take a group from Lake Zurich, Illinois to safety.  They trusted in me, not themselves.  I must admit I was very nervous, but I did know how to navigate off of the moorland in an emergency.  The students were right to begin that journey with me, knowing that it would end in safety.

Do you know who you have trusted?  It is good, like Paul to assure others that their eventual salvation is assured because they have been saved and it is God who works in them.  Let your confidence in God show in your assurance of them.  If you are struggling with walking in a way that glorifies God, or if you are struggling to get out of bed in the morning.  Remind yourself of this verse.  Let go of your fears and failings at the foot of the cross and ask Jesus to move in you.  Ask God to show you how far he has brought you.  If he has brought you this far, will he not complete his work?

Prayer

I look for people to state their confidence in me so that I have confidence.  However, all of my confidence should be in you.  Let me see that you have worked in me to heal me of so much hurt and self-loathing.  May I stand strong in your Spirit and speak with a meek boldness that shows I put no confidence in the flesh.

Questions

1. What is Paul confident in?
2. How does Paul’s confidence encourage the Philippians?
3. Why is it better to share confidence in God rather than telling someone “I believe in you?”
4. Who could you encourage by sharing verse 6 of Philippians 1?
5. How does Philippians 1:6 encourage you?