PhilippiansSample

Let’s take a second to appreciate Paul’s ability to tease and teach all at the same time. Paul is having to address that just because someone was born and raised in a certain way doesn’t automatically mean they are now the “perfect Christian.” Many Jewish believers in that time were insisting that they were superior to the Gentile believers, and wanted to enforce cultural practices like circumcision on them. So Paul shows the church that according to the Law, he is the perfect example. But then immediately turns it on its head saying that it’s actually all trash (in the original language he uses a far less polite word) because “of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” Knowing Jesus is what actually gives him worth. It is our faith and the gain of relationships that make us good followers of Christ.
If you’ve felt far lately, or just need to redirect yourself back to God, be encouraged today that our works don’t make us righteous. Our faith does. Ask God to forgive you and guide you. Nothing brings intimacy back into a relationship like honesty and trust.