Philippians 3:1-11 New International Version No Confidence in the Flesh 3 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— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5 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; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. 7 But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. 10 I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Friday - October 22
The Apostle Paul called everything that he had striven for and gained in his life “rubbish.” The Greek word is “skubala.” It means “useless or undesirable material that is subject to disposal, refuse, garbage.” Paul flushed all his striving and effort down the toilet. He threw all his success and good work into the burn pile. The ONLY thing that he wanted was Jesus. He wanted to know Christ more and to experience more of God’s mercy and love. Like the disciples with Jesus, these things are still shocking to us today! How can this really be the life that God has called us to live? It is the free life of faith that we are beloved children of God. Children love to play games. This has nothing to do with participation trophies. They just love the game. They put themselves completely into it. They are free! So are you! Like Paul, don’t you want more freedom?! Doesn’t that sound awesome?!