The Christian life is a life lived in confidence. Even when the whole world seems turned against us and the Gospel, the Christian never fears, but confidently clings to the promise of the Gospel. The “armies” of this world may encamp against Christ and the Church; wars might arise against God’s people. Even so, like the Psalmist, our hearts needn’t fear, we will remain confident.
What armies and wars have the devil and the world thrown at your faith? The devil’s cunning attacks are often more subtle than the loud marches and clamors of an approaching army. But he attacks with equal ferocity through subtle and deceptive whispers: “What if Jesus was merely a man who was made into a god by desperate men looking for hope? If God truly loves me, how could he allow all sorts of evil and suffering to happen to me? What if everything we’ve been taught about the Gospel has been nothing more than fairy tales produced by wishful thinking?” How troubling these doubts can be to God’s people. The devil never ceases speaking these lies into our ears. How, amidst these onslaughts of devilish and worldly lies, may we, with the Psalmist, remain confident and be strong, with confident and courageous hearts?
Wait for the Lord. What terrible attacks the armies of Satan waged against our Lord Jesus! “If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross” (Matt. 27:40). But our Lord continued; He endured the suffering you and I rightly deserve so that, amidst our own sufferings and the attacks of the devil, we might speak in all boldness and confidence, “My heart shall not fear.” Loving you this way, the Lord suffered the cross so that your suffering will not overcome you. No mythologist could concoct the idea of God suffering and dying. No man-made fairy-tale could conceive of the fact that Christ rose from the dead.
As surely as you have been baptized into Christ, your suffering becomes His suffering. When your suffering is with Jesus, He also draws you into His victory. This is a victory so confident and sure that, while we endure the sufferings of this body and life, we may wait for the Lord in steadfast confidence. Christ has already accomplished the victory. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Philippians 4:11b
Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]