‘I would never be brave enough to do anything like that!’ Ever heard anyone express their lack of personal self-confidence? Some people may be confident of their abilities but may still be unsure how they might be received. Others lack confidence because they doubt the relevance or truth of what they have got to say.

Strikingly, the opening paragraphs of Paul’s letter are brimming with confidence on every level. Look at how confident he is of the love the Philippian Christians have for him (vs 5,7,9). In response, he yearns for them (v 8). What about his own confidence in their faith and his right to support and advise them? And look at how confident he is in God and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is almost overwhelming. It reads so boldly. God was not asking them to be like Paul, but his example was there to be imitated. No need to feel intimidated. It was just that they experienced God’s love through Paul’s ministry. Here is a fabulous example of one Christian feeding the faith of others who know and trust each other. 

As you begin this journey through Philippians, ask God to remind you of old truths and show you new things from his Word. 

Love is at the heart of Christianity, so we are not surprised when Paul prays for the Philippians’ love – agapē in Greek – to ‘abound more and more’ (v 9). This sounds simple, but it needs thought. Contemporary understandings of love are often wrong-headed and Christians may have mistaken notions of what it means to be loving towards others. Someone might say, for example, that it’s wrong to challenge a non-believer to turn to Christ or to urge fellow disciples to press on in holiness. Rather, so the argument runs, we should ‘just love’ – which often betrays a desire to please people rather than God. This is not showing agapē love as the New Testament defines it. 

Notice how verse 9 ties love closely together with ‘knowledge’ and ‘depth of insight’. Gospel knowledge and gospel wisdom should shape our practice of love. For example, a proper knowledge of the gospel will lead us to share it with others; if we truly love non-Christians we will surely speak, since Jesus is their only hope. Similarly, if we have a clear insight into God’s purposes we will urge other Christians to pursue holiness. This will not be done harshly but graciously and supportively, for we are fellow pilgrims with struggles of our own. Love, knowledge and wisdom are closely intertwined, informing and enriching each other. 

This is a high standard of love. How can we attain it? The answer is through – and only through – the power of God (v 6). Paul ‘yearns’ (see v 8, ESV) for the Philippians with a deep ‘affection’. Whence is this affection derived? Only from Christ himself (v 8). He shows us both the standard and the source of Christian love. Knowing such agapē love is an urgent need in both church and world. Who will you love today?  

Commit to pray regularly for a non-Christian to come to Jesus. This may happen quickly but may not! Do we love them sufficiently to keep praying?