PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – VAIN-CONFIDENCE
"For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3:3)
"After they had started walking on the new path [into By-Path Meadow], they found it very easy on their feet, and looking ahead, they saw a man walking in the same direction they were going. His name was Vain-Confidence."
Vain-Confidence is the person who puts his trust in himself. He thinks that his was is better than God's Way. He places his faith in his own reasoning, his own abilities, his own strength, his own ingenuity. "I can do it" is his motto. His confidence is in himself and what he can do rather than in God. But eventually, Vain-Confidence falls into a pit. As the hymn "Stand Up, Stand Up For Jesus" says, "The arm of flesh will fail you, you dare not trust your own." It is an empty confidence that trusts myself, my abilities and my works, rather than trusting God, because my own fleshly attempts will eventually fail. The Psalmist declared, "In You, O LORD, I put my trust….You are my rock and my fortress" (Psalm 71:1a, 3c). I do not trust myself. This does not mean that I don't do anything. It means that I do what I can do to the best of my ability and then put the results in God's hands. My trust and confidence is in the Lord God. So, "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Love, Dad
No comments:
Post a Comment