Whose the Man...not me. Philippians 2:1-11

Philippians 3:1-11
No Confidence in the Flesh

1Finally, my brothers, 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.
2Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised 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; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.
7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9and 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 and is by faith. 10I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.

It is interesting to me that in Philippians 1, Paul doesn't seem to come down to hard on those who are preaching the gospel out of selfish motives...I guess he was biding his time, because he seems to hit them pretty hard here. He would call them "mutilators of the flesh" which seems to be pretty harsh (I'm honestly not sure what a mutilator of the flesh is...I'm just thinking it is not who I want to be). Unfortunately I wonder if there are not times that this is exactly who I am...primarily they are defined as people who put "confidence in the flesh" which according to 4-6 includes such things as status, people group, skills, personal zeal. Life and success is about them, not about Christ, everything comes back to their ability. They are in it for their own glory (this is obvious from Philippians 1). Man I can relate to this type of struggle. Lord, you have already heard my prayers this morning, I am so sorry for looking to myself and not you. I am sorry for pursuing self and not You. I am sorry for boasting in the flesh...stuff that this world cares about and not you. Forgive me Lord.

Paul goes on to show us what really counts in life. That everything our world calls profit, is actually nothing compared to Christ and living His purpose in our World. There is nothing more significant, nothing more satisfying, nothing more beautiful than pursuing Christ. Paul is so passionate about pursuing Christ that he even speaks of a longing to "share in his sufferings". Christ is so valuable that nothing compares to Him, not even physical health!!! Lord, how I pray that You would become such a deep passion for me. Lord, may nothing compare to You Father. Thank-you for the undeserved righteousness that You have placed on me. Thank-you for Your unbelievable grace.