Christian Confidence

Christians can depend on nothing except Christ, their Lord and God. For the sake of Christ, they surrender everything and declare, “Before I deny or leave my Christ, I will abandon food and drink, honor and possessions, house and property, spouse and child—everything.” 

A Christian’s courage cannot be fake or weak. It must be genuine and certain. For Christians cannot encourage themselves with any temporary thing on this earth. Instead, they cling only to the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified and died for us. So Christ will say, as he promises in this passage, “Because you acknowledge me, you have this advantage and this comfort. Your courage won’t mislead you, for your Helper is the Spirit of truth.”

All other courage comes from the spirit of lies—a false spirit that cannot please God. But whatever Christians do, or suffer, for their faith in the Lord Christ is done for the truth. They have done what is proper and right. They can boast truthfully and joyfully that what they have done is pleasing to God and the angels. 

Christians can feel so confident that they don’t have to fear the devil or the world. They don’t have to be afraid of any threat or terror. Let this encourage you, for nothing on earth can comfort you more during times of need than a confident heart. 

As long as your heart is plagued with uncertainty and doubts, you cannot be courageous. But if you live in truth, you can be sure that any suffering you experience isn’t caused by your own sin. You’re not suffering because you tried to attain possessions, honor, or praise for yourself. The only charge against you is that you believe in the Lord Christ and trust in his Word.

Source: Quoted in Faith Alone: A Daily Devotional, p. 64.  James C. Galvin. Zondervan (2009).