22 years… What has carried, what has kept, what has allowed for and instilled perseverance in my heart and soul? Has it been my own “goodness”? Has It been my ability to make the “right” choices? Is it my character? Has it been because of my family? My pastoral persona? My own strength? It cannot be so. It most certainly is not MY grip on God that has made the difference, but his grip on me. It is not merely my pursuit of Him, but His pursuit of me. This confidence that Paul wrote about, was not a confidence of his own ability, but a confidence in Christ! Later in chapter 3, he makes that confidence in Christ even more apparent.
Luke, when writing of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16 says:
“From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”
And it’s to this woman, this new believer – Lydia, that Paul is directly writing. Yes, to the Philippian church at large, but a member of that church, Lydia. This convincing confidence is evident in the salvation of Lydia and her household. What did Paul witness? His smooth words and charismatic speaking win Lydia to Christ? Was it Lydia’s doing? Did she try hard? Was it because of her character, family prestige, or right choices? No! It was “The Lord opening her heart to respond.” So, Paul is saying “hey Lydia”, “hey believers in Philippi”, “hey Christian reading this today”, BE CONFIDENT! Be confident that the God who sovereignly saved you, will keep you and carry you. It was by Christ work on the cross that you were saved, and it’s by his grace that he holds you and keeps you! In good times and in bad. That is the heart of JOY! Whatever you’re going through, you can be confident in Christ! Not happy in Christ, not having a good day in Christ, not everything is all honky-dory in Christ, but that he holds you and keeps you in all things and in all seasons! Your confidence in Christ, leads to a JOY rooted life in Christ!
Luke, when writing of Lydia’s conversion in Acts 16 says:
“From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days. On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. “If you consider me a believer in the Lord,” she said, “come and stay at my house.” And she persuaded us.”
And it’s to this woman, this new believer – Lydia, that Paul is directly writing. Yes, to the Philippian church at large, but a member of that church, Lydia. This convincing confidence is evident in the salvation of Lydia and her household. What did Paul witness? His smooth words and charismatic speaking win Lydia to Christ? Was it Lydia’s doing? Did she try hard? Was it because of her character, family prestige, or right choices? No! It was “The Lord opening her heart to respond.” So, Paul is saying “hey Lydia”, “hey believers in Philippi”, “hey Christian reading this today”, BE CONFIDENT! Be confident that the God who sovereignly saved you, will keep you and carry you. It was by Christ work on the cross that you were saved, and it’s by his grace that he holds you and keeps you! In good times and in bad. That is the heart of JOY! Whatever you’re going through, you can be confident in Christ! Not happy in Christ, not having a good day in Christ, not everything is all honky-dory in Christ, but that he holds you and keeps you in all things and in all seasons! Your confidence in Christ, leads to a JOY rooted life in Christ!