Competent and confident
by Pastor Mark Lieschke
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Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God (2 Corinthians 3:5).
Read 2 Corinthians 3:1–18
How do you live up to other people’s expectations? Are you competent and confident in every aspect of service that you carry out? Do you feel as though you ‘measure up’? And if you are accused of failing, how do you respond?
St Paul wrote about ways in which he was made to feel inadequate in his ministry. False teachers challenged his integrity and authority as an apostle. He had changed his plans to visit them, resulting in the accusation that his word could not be trusted. He was also accused of pocketing money that had been collected for the poverty-stricken believers in Jerusalem.
His response to these accusations was not laying down the law or mounting a rigorous defence for his actions. He had an intense pastoral love for those who attacked him. He pleaded for them to understand that his ministry didn’t have its foundation on his gifts, abilities, sincerity, wisdom, strength or perseverance. Nor did it rely on him meeting people’s expectations.
The basis of Paul’s ministry was the gospel. That was what gave him courage, confidence and boldness in his work. He believed he was competent because of what God had done for him and continued to do in him through Jesus Christ. It allowed him to say, ‘I can do everything through him who gives me strength’ (Philippians 4:13).
Our call to live and serve in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ has the same foundation. Our strength is limited, our enthusiasm wanes, our attention is easily diverted, and our mistakes can make us feel like failures – but our competence comes from God. And that makes all the difference.
His presence, power and glory in our lives mean that we can be competent and confident in the ministry that we have been called to.
Loving Lord, fill me with your Spirit again today so I know that because of you, I am competent to serve where you have called me. Please give me the confidence to find opportunities to glorify, honour and praise you in every aspect of my life. Amen.
Mark Lieschke is a retired pastor living on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland. He served in parishes in South Australia, New Zealand and New South Wales before being elected as bishop of the LCANZ’s NSW and ACT District. Mark enjoys spending time with family and friends, travelling, walking on the beach and relaxing.
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