Confidence Day 11 Confidence In Truth

Meribeth Schierbeek
May 1, 2023

1 John 2:20-27
1 John 3:19-24
Romans 10:14-17
Romans 12:1-2
1 Samuel 16:1-13
My children and I attended a Bible class when they were little. When we gathered the class for the Bible story, we encouraged the children to see and touch the Bible before reading, while saying, “This is God’s true Word.” What a gift to see the marvel in the children’s eyes as their little hands touched the pages of the true story! These children grew to understand, tangibly, the existence of God’s true Word.
Is this where confidence in God’s truth begins?
How does knowing the truth result in transformation in the trajectory of our lives?
Could confidence come when we understand Who the truth is?
Learning to recognize God as our ultimate truth and abide in His care has brought me peace, rest, and confidence in Him. 1 John 2:24-5 encourages us to abide, or remain in, God.
“What you have heard from the beginning is to remain in you. If what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will remain in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He Himself made to us: eternal life.”
Knowing God deeply, remaining in Him, brings me safety and protection, giving me confidence.
Logically, our next question might be, “How can I remain in Him and be confident in His truth?”
1 John 2:20 answers, “But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth.”
This verse begs the question, “What is an anointing, and how does it relate to confidence in truth?”
Anointing is to set someone apart for the Lord.
1 Samuel 16:1-13 speaks of Samuel, a prophet (someone sent by God to bring His word to His people), anointing a young shepherd named David to be king over Israel. Samuel, himself, received a call from the Lord as a young boy. (1 Samuel 3) I love his story and his reply, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10)
As Samuel was called, so are all believers in Jesus.
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, in view of the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; that is your true worship. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:1-2)
…A child in Bible class touches the word, sees and hears the word. Will he/she gain anointing by this?
…A young teen is exposed to the love of Christ via a neighbor’s invitation to church week after week. Does his/her attendance provide anointing?
…An adult hears the Word of God on the radio while surfing channels, or perhaps while sitting in the church building year after year, hearing the Word preached. Does hearing or being in church result in anointing?
Where do we find this transformative anointing resulting in confident faith?
Don’t we each yearn for such confident knowing, unshaken by lies or deceit?
Don’t we ache for our loved ones to be deeply rooted in confident truth?
Perhaps we have seen, touched, and heard the truth, but how does transformation leading to confidence happen? It is through belief in the Word by faith.
Romans 10:8b-9 assures us, “This is the message of faith we proclaim: If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”
Genuine faith in God ushers in transformative anointing for the “set apart life” offered to God. Since Jesus’ propitiatory death and resurrection, we no longer rely on prophets to communicate God’s call or anointing. His own Spirit anoints us with faith to receive His forgiveness and grace. It is this connection to Himself, Who Is Truth, that radically transforms our lives, our prayers, and how we love others as we align ourselves with His purposes.
The confidence we seek is found in Jesus Himself.
Will you choose today by faith to believe, receiving Him as your Savior and be anointed into the calling and work God has for you?
Then what?
In a world where autonomy, independence, and isolation are growing, we must begin cultivating this confidence by connecting with a local body of believers: Church. We must surround ourselves with Christ-followers who understand that the “anointed set apart life” is about God rather than self.
In fact, 1 John 3:18-19, 23-24 speaks of our confidence increasing as we demonstrate God’s love to others.
“Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth. This is how we will know that we belong to the truth and will reassure our hearts [. . .] Now this is His command: that we believe in the name of His Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another as He commanded us. The one who keeps His commands remains in Him, and He in him.”
How will you show God’s love for others in action and truth?
Begin with prayer, perhaps using Samuel’s example, “Speak, Lord, I am listening.”
Ask to stay in step with the Spirit (Galatians 5:16), and make a plan to share His love, as one who has been anointed to do His will.
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