“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ; the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.” Philippians 3:7–9
Last week I was sitting outside on the second-floor deck at my Assisted Living facility enjoying a peaceful moment in the sun when a man older than me pushing a walker pulled up next to my wheelchair and sat down in a chair. He asked me what I had done for a living and before a response left my lips, he began a twenty-minute oration of his very illustrious and successful career in the insurance business. He had a lot to be proud about. I looked at my phone, and saw that it was time to go to lunch and excused myself.
The Apostle Paul had a lot to boast about during his life time. His heritage, his schooling, his accomplishments, his zeal, his position and his passion were all part of his being groomed for a seat on the Sanhedrin. He was riding high among his peers until he came face to face with the resurrected, sovereign Lord; Jesus Christ. I read a quote by Dr. Alan Redpath in a devotion recently that said; “When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible man and crushes him.” I can tell you that it true as I sit here in a wheelchair that it is often the plan God uses when dealing with strong-willed, stubborn people.
Drop the pride and put on Christ. Let God's love fill every area that was occupied by pride in your life. May our relationship with Christ now rest on faith, not works. Paul was clearly a changed man. Perhaps we all can make a change in our lives as well this week. Drop the pride.
Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay