SCRIPTURE:
“Such confidence we have through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
2 Corinthians 3:4
OBSERVATION:
Paul makes it clear that true confidence in life does not come from personal ability, education, or self-sufficiency. Even though I grew up singing “be strong and ally ye” and shouting out “i kū mau mau”, the Apostle is reminding me today that confidence flows through Christ and is given by God. My effort alone is insufficient to produce anything. Competence to me has meant having pride in being consistently capable, but Paul redirects its source entirely away from myself and toward God. This reframes how I understand competency. God does not choose me because I am already capable; He makes me capable as I rely on Him. My role is not independent performance, but dependent partnership.
APPLICATION:
God’s commissioning is not a solo assignment, it is a co-mission. We are “Chosen to Co-mission”. He invites me to participate in what He is already doing through the Holy Spirit. True competence, then, is not striving harder but aligning closer.
When I try to operate out of my own strength, I either fall into pride (if things go well) or discouragement (if they don’t). But when I recognize that God is the source of my competency, my posture shifts from pressure to partnership. I become attentive instead of anxious.
Co-missioning with God means my responsibility is obedience and availability; His responsibility is power and outcome. I don’t have to manufacture effectiveness, I step into it by joining Him. This changes how I approach opportunities, challenges, and even my limitations. Instead of asking, “Am I capable?” I ask, “Is God in this?” If He is, then I already have everything I need through Him. So, technically singing “be strong and ally ye” isn’t that far off when I realize my strength comes from Him and my best course of action is to ally with what He is doing.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You that my competence does not come from myself but from You. Forgive me for the times I rely on my own strength or hesitate because I feel inadequate. Teach me to recognize where Your Spirit is moving and to join You there. I choose to be strong and ally with what You are doing. Amen
