Day 321
Philippians 3:4
"Though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If any one else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more."
Paul wrote to the Philippians, reminding them that our confidence as believers is in the spirit and not in the flesh. Our spiritual accomplishments are directly attributed to God's work in us, which leaves us without boasting. We cannot brag about how we were saved, because it was not by our works of righteousness, but according to God's mercy that He saved us. Our being filled with the Holy Spirit is a gift, not an accomplishment. If we have received healing, it was because we accepted the Word of God about Jesus' sacrifice for our sicknesses and diseases, not because we earned it. Everything we have that relates to our being new creatures in Christ is to the glory of God.
The apostle Paul said he had things in the flesh he could boast about. He said he had more to brag about than anyone who might read his letter at that time. However, he would rather have counted all his fleshly gains as losses to achieve a much higher prize. He was pressing for the mark of being what Jesus called him to be. He wanted to know the Lord intimately and accomplish everything God called him for.
It is important that we realize we will always be tempted to put confidence in our flesh. One reason is we have accomplished things and achieved goals using our natural talents and abilities. People have awarded us diplomas and degrees or given us titles or special awards.
Even religious titles can be earned. Some have been elected bishops, appointed elders or ordained into the ministry by someone else. Although these positions and titles are in relation to spiritual work, they are of the flesh. The call or ordination of God is not an accomplishment of man, but a divine assignment based upon God's ability. Men award ordinations, etc. because of accomplishments they see. God gives the call before anyone sees anything. He then equips the individual to fulfill that call. It is difficult to ignore all we have accomplished until we come to a point where we are consumed with the desire to know God and to fulfill His plan for us.
Some of Paul's accomplishments were religious. He was an outstanding Pharisee, well versed in the law. Had he put his confidence in his accomplishments when God called him, he would not have accomplished what he did in the ministry. In I Corinthians 2:4, he said, "and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power." God used Paul's knowledge wherever it suited His purposes, but He did not need it to accomplish His tasks. He could use what Paul had learned, because He always has the option of using whatever we have. The thing for us to do is lay all we have accomplished aside and humble ourselves before the Lord. We must allow Him to tell us what He can use and not show Him what we have, as though He needs some of it.
Let us resist the temptation to expect God to use us or promote us because of our accomplishments. It is only His accomplishments in us that will determine what He does with us.
I humbly lay aside all I have accomplished and present myself before God as nothing without Him. My desire is that His plan will be fulfilled in me in the way He chooses. Whether my assignment seems great or small, it is only what pleases Him that counts.