Confidently together in Christ

Confidence is a funny thing; it can destroy us or make us, depending on what it's rooted in.

Confidence is a funny thing; we've probably all met someone who has totally, unbridled, unafraid confidence and wondered, What is this person thinking? And depending on what our confidence is based on it can be a profoundly damaging thing or incredibly helpful.

Today, the author of Hebrews showed us where to plant our confidence - in Christ's completed works, who acts as a priest for us. When we live in confidence in Christ, we live freely, and we are free to live for the glory of God.

The author shows us three ways we can live in this confidence: by drawing near, holding fast, and stirring up one another. As we look at these, we realize the first two callings are totally dependent upon what God has already done for us. The final calling: to stir up one another to love and good works, becomes an easy joy when we see what God has already done for us in Christ. Not only that, but we realize we all three of these callings are for us a body, so that we can continually stir up one another, when we need a brother or a sister to walk with.

It is our confidence in Christ that allows us to stir up one another so that we might draw near and hold fast.

We are called to live together in Christ confidently.

Reflection questions:

1. Where do you root your confidence?

2. List what might change if you found your confidence in the person of Christ?

3. With this in mind, what does it mean to graciously stir up your brothers and sisters in Christ to love and good works?

4. What is one way you can stir someone up this week?