Some of us lack confidence about ourselves. Christians are people: 1) who believe that Jesus came to die for our sins, came to life again, appeared to people and went to heaven, 2) who have turned away from the wrong things we used to do, and 3) who have committed ourselves to do what Jesus taught. We have every reason to have confidence, but sometimes we look too much at our mistakes, weaknesses, or hard circumstances.
Our relationship with God gives us confidence and God has said a lot about that in the Bible. Here are just a few examples. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he (and she) is a new creation…” (2 Cor. 5:17). “In Him (Christ) we have redemption (we have been bought or purchased) through his blood…” (Ephesians 1:7). “…those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons (and daughters) of God” (Romans 8:14). “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1) Jesus said to His followers, “You are my friends if you do what I command,” (John 15:14). “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” (1 Peter 2:9).
For Christians, living with our mistakes, weaknesses, and hard circumstances, we are also forgiven. We are God’s children. We belong to Him and He loves us. We need to repeatedly remind ourselves, and each other, who we are in relation to Christ. It can be helpful to write out one or more of the above verses and put it where we will see it every day. Read who we are every day. Know who we are every day.
Just to be clear, everyone was created in the likeness of God and everyone has sinned, which separates us from God. And yet, God doesn’t want that separation. God loves everyone: people who don’t believe in God, people who aren’t sure whether God is real, Christians, and the people of all the world’s religions. “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). “…God our Savior, who wants all men (and women) to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4). God wants everyone to know Him, but only those who believe in Christ and follow Him will be saved and are His people.
Prayer: Father, thank you that you wanted me to be forgiven and to know you. Thank you that you bought me back through Jesus’ death for my sin and you adopted me. I am your child. I belong to you. My confidence comes from you. Amen.
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