Philippians 3:4-14
4 though I myself have reason for confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he has reason for 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; as to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. 7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order 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 comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Straining Toward the Goal
12 Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
I
believe most people, despite what they say or think, have the luxury of
depending on themselves in life (or so they think). Said another way, most
people can rely on their own gifts and abilities to accomplish what they
believe God calls them to do. I know few people of whom such is not true; I am
one of them for various reasons. This is not to diminish anyone’s skill or
ability but to offer a glimpse into the hearts of humans. We may say that we
depend completely on God; yet, we do not internalize the truth that we have nothing
apart from him. It is only when we are brought to our rope’s end that we
realize our complete dependence on God. I can relate to what Paul says here. He
lists his accomplishments and worth in the flesh; yet, in God’s economy, none
of this matters, for God examines the heart (1 Sam 16:7). Let us be careful to
avoid pride and the foolish thought that we do not depend on God or only depend
on him for a little, for reality is that we literally depend on God for
everything. Thank him for his grace and live in the reality that nothing good
is from yourself in any way, shape, or form.
