Confidence

"Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry." (Hebrews 10:35-37 KJV)

Confidence in Christ is the most important element of a Christian's life. Temptations assail us on every hand. Our faith is tested every day. It seems that the closer we come to the return of Christ, the greater the challenge to maintain our confidence.

But our confidence in Christ holds the key to the "great recompense of reward." And reward is what we are expecting. Now, we are not merely "reward" focused, yet the end results of placing our confidence in Christ is truly a reward beyond our wildest imaginations.

And our imaginations drive our expectations and energies and excitement. The challenge is to confidently maintain our excitement. So, patience becomes the key issue. Imagination is good for motivation in the midst of our daily struggles, but Confidence in Christ must be driven by our patience.

Perhaps Adam was a patient man, I don't know, but most humans are not patient individuals. In fact, we like to say, "I don't like patience!" But the promise of God has never been instantly fulfilled. God's promises have been instantly given and received, yet the fulfillment of his promises has occurred over time.

It is comforting, as well as motivational, to confidently know that Christ is coming back. He will indeed come. He will not delay his return indefinitely. I simply must not throw away my confidence in him and his coming.

Dear Father, thank you for Christ our Savior and Lord. Empower us with a patient, enduring confidence in him and his return. I pray this in the name of Jesus.

Hold steadfastly to your confidence in Christ,