On Sunday the Baltimore Ravens played the Pittsburg Steelers in the 2011 season opener. I admit I am a longtime Washington Redskins fan, but working at Helping Up Mission has given me a chance to know and appreciate Ravens players and coaches, especially during the Harbaugh era ( see blogs from 11/19/08; 1/10/09; 10/22/10; 11/23/10; 11/25/10; 4/21/11).
The Ravens have been exciting to watch in recent years and I admit I enjoy their swagger. They are Baltimore Ravens and proud of it – and it shows. I like that.
So, been thinking…is it wrong for a believer to have or appreciate a good swagger? I have decided not necessarily. One of our Spiritual Recovery Program memory verses is Philippians 1:6:
Being confident of this, that He who has begun a good work in you will carry it on to completion, till the day of Christ Jesus.
It sounds to me like Paul had a bit of swagger about him in this verse. He had absolute confidence that God, who had started a good work in the lives of his Philippian friends, would also carry it along to completion.
Paul’s confidence was not in himself or the Philippians, but in God. He is the one who started the good work and He was the one who would finish the process. So, then, what are we supposed to do? Just go along for the ride, He can handle everything.
We learn the same lesson from Steps 1-3 of the 12 Steps – I can’t, He can, so let Him. And if this is happening in your life, I think it is ok for you to have a little bit of a swagger, too. Yah God!
One Good Work at a Time,
Pastor Gary Byers,
Spiritual Life Director