DAILY READING
REFLECTION
Competence and Confidence
by Judy Webb
It seems Paul’s authority is in question here. There are some who are planting seeds of doubt in the people’s minds. They are challenging the authenticity of Paul and his teaching. They question his competency in an effort to turn the believers away from Christ. Satan is trying his hardest to plant seeds of doubt, just as he does today. When we begin to understand and to embrace the truth, evil is right there casting uncertainty.
Paul has confidence in the guiding of the Holy Spirit. He places his trust and faith in Christ ahead of everything. His confidence is in God, not in himself. Those who are attempting to create doubt are spiritually blind. This poses the question, what is spiritual blindness? It is a serious condition experienced by those who do not believe in God, Jesus Christ and His Word. “All will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (2 Thessalonians 2:12)
Being spiritually blind they are perishing, as 2 Corinthians 4:4 points out, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ…”
We can probably all attest to a time when we, or someone we loved, was spiritually blind. Once we saw the light, the truth being opened up to us, everything changed. The world became filled with hope and a reason to embrace the Holy Spirit and trust His leading. Perhaps the Holy Spirit can use our testimony to cure others around us of their spiritual blindness. He can open their eyes to the truth and be set free.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Dear Lord, we all need to embrace with confidence the teachings of Paul. We need to understand that it is the Holy Spirit who inspires and convicts us to embrace truth and reject the lies of the enemy. Come Holy Spirit!
