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REFLECTION

The theme for our reflection is “Making the Good Confession” A confession in the context of our reflection means publicly professing one’s faith in solidarity with other believers and total commitment to God. This confession signifies his commitment to following Christ, living a life dedicated to God, and striving for eternal life. It’s a declaration of allegiance to God’s kingdom over the world’s values. We shall reflect on the fact that making the good confession must not only be mere declarations or pronouncements, but a life of total obedience or submissiveness to Christ.

Beloved in the Lord, making the good confession to follow Jesus and to be in fellowship with other believers is a decision to have ourselves set apart for God’s purposes and our salvation. Making a good confession of faith is the act of renouncing the world and embracing the salvation of God through Jesus in total submission and obedience to His will. It is for this reason that Paul charged Timothy, “…pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness. 12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11-12) In other words, Paul encouraged young Timothy to be a source of strength for others as a church leader. Church leaders must remain resolute in their faith and calling. We must follow the perfect example of Christ and also be an example to the people we shepherd. We must hold onto our faith and be a great source of encouragement to our members.

Our confession of faith will be tested not in good or joyous times but during times of agony, pain and persecution. Jesus is our perfect example when it comes to making a good confession of faith, even in the face of persecution and intimidation. Paul acknowledged this fact as a way of encouraging Timothy when he wrote ” “In the sight of God, who gives life to everything, and of Christ Jesus, who while testifying before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you 14 to keep this command without spot or blame until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 which God will bring about in his own time” (1 Timothy 6:13-15). Beloved in the Lord, we are also being called upon to make the good confession in a world filled with disobedience and wickedness. We are called upon to declare our allegiance to Jesus Christ in the face of sin and all manner of abominations. At a time when the church is being coerced and in some instances lured to accept and practice same-sex marriages and loosen its Biblical standards to make way for human standards, Paul greatly charges us to make the good confession and stand by it. As a church and as believers, some of the confessions we can make in the face of temptations and challenging times are: I am a new creature in Christ: old things have passed away, behold, all things are new. — (2 Corinthians 5:17) I have died and have been raised with Christ and am now seated in heavenly places.— (Ephesians 2:5-6) I am dead to sin and alive unto righteousness. — (Romans 6:11). When we are faced with the temptation to become corrupt, sexually immoral or go back to an addictive and destructive behaviour, let the Bible be our foundation in enabling us to make the good confession. Jesus admonished in Mark 8:38 that “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.” (Mark 8:38)

In summary, we have discovered that making a good confession must not only be mere declarations or pronouncements, but also a life of total obedience and submissiveness to Christ. Shalom.

PRAYER

May the Holy Spirit empower us to make the good confession and abide by it. May the Holy Spirit strengthen us in times of agony and persecution to make the good confession as our allegiance to our Lord and Master, Jesus. Amen.