Wednesday, February 16, 2011
END TIMES READING PLAN: Deuteronomy 28-30
SCRIPTURE READING
Philippians 3:4b-7 (NIV); If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
As a Jewish religious leader, Paul had pristine credentials. Though they may have been a point of pride in his position as a Pharisee, he was able to count them as worthless in light of the gospel.
How many of us are defined by what we do? This is a common problem, and accounts for many other issues within the church. When we put all of our stock and self-worth into the things that we do, we will find ourselves always on guard, for fear that someone may come along who is “better” than us at this, or “more suited” than us for that. This quickly turns into rivalry, which takes a root of bitterness and leads to disunity and division within the church.
Many of us live performance lifestyles; whether we are trying to appear spiritually and emotionally together around friends and acquaintances, or we are compiling our good deeds, memory verses and ministry work into a tally to show the Lord in hopes of receiving a spiritual gold star, we pour ourselves into ourselves. When Paul discovered truth, he was able to sincerely say that his bloodline, religious deeds, talents, career, passions, and his right to being right meant nothing. All those things – good things – were inferior to truly following Jesus.
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1) Mediate on Paul’s words in the passage above. You will not be able to relate to his specific boasts, but ask the Holy Spirit to reveal the credentials in your life that you are clinging to as your means to finding self-worth. Lay these things before God in confession.
2) Ask the Holy Spirit to show you how your life would look differently if you were able to sincerely say, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” How can you move a step closer to that lifestyle today?
3) How have you been trying to perform for God, instead of truly following Him? Ask Him to give you a picture of how He sees you.
