Self-Confidence and Cross Confidence We have worked with young people over the course of 35 years in the area of Bible Bowl. In Bible Bowl, churches have one or more teams of players ranging from 6th through 12th grade; and they compete against each other in a quiz format over a selected book or books of the Bible. When a younger player learns all the material and is very good in practice, they still often lack the self-confidence they need to play the game competitively. They mostly fear they will answer a question incorrectly and put their team behind, or even worse, cost them the game. Unfortunately, they don’t quite understand that their lack of confidence is what really puts the team behind. After some experience, however, these timid players grow in confidence and take chances and help achieve victory for their team. As followers of Christ, however, we do not have to have “self”-confidence, but cross confidence to be victorious. What’s cross confidence? When our confidence is not in ourselves but in Christ; not in the pride of education but in the humility of the cross. Paul states this clearly in his first letter to the Corinthians: “…but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God” (Corinthians 1:23-24). The writer of Hebrews writes: “Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful” (Hebrews 10:19-23). In Christ, we can be confident that his blood has covered us and because of his love, he will declare us innocent. Then we can enter into his joy for eternity. The bridge from the song, “One Thing Remains” echoes this truth: In death, In life, I’m confident and covered by the power of Your great love My debt is paid, there’s nothing that can separate my heart from Your great love... For further reflection read: 1 Corinthians 1:30-31; Romans 8:31-32; 35-39; 1 John 4:16-17
Posted on: Fri, 05 Jul 2013 09:59:22 +0000
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