1 Timothy 3:13

In 1 Timothy 3:13 in the NASB, the word "confidence" is used in place of the NIV's "assurance."

The better one serves Jesus, the more confident a person can become in his faith.

My annual spritual goal this year is to grow in faith.  The way I will achieve this goal is by serving Jesus better and better.

One of the best ways to serve is by teaching my summer school students with excellence.  This is a spiritual discipline because I have been humbled in this position two of the past three years.  I realize that I cannot succeed alone in this challenge.

Job 24:22

In Job 24:22, the author reminds the rich and powerful that without God's active approval, they can lose everything at any moment.

Even living a righteous life, Job lost almost everything in mere minutes.

There is no direct correlation between righteousness and worldly success.

So why bother doing the right thing?

For eternal reward.

There is self-interest in doing the right things for the right reasons.

Esther 9:30

This verse, just like yesterday's, has the word "assurance" only in the NIV.

It is a summary of Mordecai's letter to the Jews, establishing Purim as an annual celebration of their victory over Haman and his murderous plot to exterminate God's chosen people.

1 Samuel 17:18

The NIV is the only translation which uses the word "assurance" in 1 Samuel 17:18.  This indicates that the word is not being used in the way that the Navigators use the term.

However, I particularly like Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible related to this passage.

The link to today's verse and surrounding context is here.

How wise the commentator is to point out that when people do the right thing, it should be no surprise that their motives are questioned. Furthermore, it is typical to be attacked for making decisions based upon integrity and truth.

It is interesting to note that David's arrival at the battleground makes his brothers angry and suspicious.  He must have had a reputation as an annoying, know-it-all little brother.

What's worse, he was entitled to this confident opinion!  This is very difficult for me to accept, because I'm an oldest child.  My younger brother always thought very highly of himself!

If you're curious, a link to Matthew Henry's entire commentary on 1 Samuel 17 is found here.

Assurance

The word "assurance" appears exactly five times in the NIV:
1 Samuel 17:18
Esther 9:30
Job 24:22
1 Timothy 3:13
Hebrews 10:22

What Is "Follow-Up?"

According to this post by Chee Min, whose church uses the Alpha outreach series, the Navigators mean "Lessons on Assurance and Christian Living."

I will focus future posts on these two themes.

At the Movies: Wall-E

My dad and I took my four-year-old son to his first movie theater movie this afternoon.



I am finding that as I reflect upon the concept of "follow-up" in the context of Christian faith, I am focusing more upon what I would label "outreach."

Wall-E is a fantastic vehicle for asking people to reflect upon whether or not humanity is basically good or basically evil.



What do you think, dear Reader?