21 Nov December 2nd Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT PHILIPPI

CONFIDENT OF YOUR  SALVATION

Philippians 1:4-6 “I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Not only did St. Paul rejoice in his partnership in the gospel (yesterday’s devotion) with the Christians at Philippi, he also rejoiced that in this partnership they also shared in their confidence “that He (God) who began a good work in (them) would carry it on to completion” on the last day;  Together, as true believers in Jesus Christ they would enter into heaven on Judgment Day.

One of the blessings of a partnership is the mutual support partners provide one another.    When one is weak the other is stronger.  When one is unsure how to proceed the other has a plan in mind.

The Greek word here translated confidence can also mean, “to be certain, to be sure, to be convinced.”

In those moments when you need reassurance God loves you, your partners in the gospel pray with you and share an appropriate word of God to give you assurance.  When you have sinned and are  unsure whether God will forgive you, your partners in the gospel stand next to you to remind you that God loves all sinners and is ready to forgive those who repent.

God has given you partners, fellow Christians, placed you in a Christian congregation, led you into a fellowship of believers in a Bible study group so that you can encourage one another to be “. . .  confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

Prayer:  Grant me, O Lord, Christian partners to encourage and build me up and I them to be confident that on the last day I and they will be with you for all eternity.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Jesus lives!  The vict’ry’s won!  Death no longer can appall me;

Jesus lives! Death’s reign is done!

From the grave will Christ recall me.

Brighter scenes will then commence; This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! To Him the throne High above all things is given.

I shall go where He is gone,

‘Live and reign with Him in heaven.

God is faithful; doubtings, hence! This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! For me He died, Hence will I, to Jesus living,

Pure in heart and act abide,

Praise to Him and glory giving.

All I need God will dispense; This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! I know full well Nothing me from Him shall sever.

Neither death nor pow’rs of hell

Part me now from Christ forever.

God will be my sure defense; This shall be my confidence.

Jesus lives! And now is death But the gate of life immortal;

This shall calm my trembling breath

When I pass its gloomy portal.

Faith shall cry, as fails each sense; Jesus is my confidence!

(LSB 490)