Have you ever had the experience online, when the advertisements, suddenly seem to get very personal? That’s happened to me recently. I’ve suddenly been getting all these advertisements for hair loss solutions. And I am losing my hair, but I’m pretty sure I haven’t told my computer that. So it makes me feel like someone is spying on me.
So I’m seeing all these ads telling me to fix my hair loss. It’s just my appearance, but first impressions make a big difference. And people probably notice more than I think. And so I should fix my hair because it would make me feel confident. That’s what the advertisers tell me.
But the Bible tells me, I don’t need hair to be confident – I’ve got Jesus!
The next few weeks I’m going to be working through the book of Philippians. I pray it will encourage us to feel confident about following Jesus.
Philippians 1 verses 4-6 (NIV)
4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
If you have turned to trust Jesus, then God has begun a good work in you, so we can be confident he will carry on working in you.
Paul was writing this letter while under arrest and in 2:23-24 (NIV) he says
I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
Paul’s locked up, he’s facing charges that could lead to his execution, he doesn’t know what’s going to happen. But because of the Lord Jesus, he’s feeling confident.
And he wants other people to feel that confidence in Jesus. In chapter 1:14 (NIV) he describes one of the good things that has resulted from his arrest:
And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become – confident in the Lord – and – dare all the more – to proclaim the gospel without fear.
Then at the start of chapter 3 he reminds them, not to put confidence in the wrong things! Chapter 3:1-3 (NIV)
Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh.
How are you feeling about life following Jesus?
Perhaps you’ve turned to follow Jesus but you’re not really sure what to do next. Perhaps you’re not sure if you want to follow Jesus, because you’re not sure what that involves. Perhaps you’ve been following Jesus for a while and it’s just time for a check up. Perhaps you’re following Jesus and you’re just feeling tired. Perhaps you’re following Jesus and you want to help other people follow Jesus. Perhaps you’re following Jesus but you’re frustrated with other followers of Jesus.
Well the book of Philippians is a great book for all of us because it simply and clearly explains the difference Jesus makes to life.
Because of Jesus we know God loves us. So we can love each other.
Because of Jesus we know God provides for us. So we can be content.
And because of Jesus we know God will never give up on us. So we can be confident.
So we’re going to start looking at these themes as we work through the book of Philippians. And I am deliberately going to divide the book up in to the same sections as the course Discipleship Explored. I’m not expecting everyone to use that course but it’s a great resource if you’re interested. There’s a series of videos and study books with questions and supplementary Bible readings you can use for personal reflection or discussion. You absolutely don’t have to. But you could use Discipleship Explored to work through Philippians with me or to share Philippians with someone else.
It’s a great book to give us confidence in following Jesus, because we can be confident about Jesus himself.