June 23 - Confidence In The Flesh.

Philippians 3:4
“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more:”
 
The Apostle Paul knew that if anyone could have a reason to have confidence in their flesh, it was him. He understood that some would expect him to depend on his past. 
 
Philippians 3:5-6
“Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.”
 
But Paul chose to leave all of that behind for One purpose.
 
Philippians 3:7
“But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.”
 
He gave it all up for Him.
Nothing in his past, no matter how grand, was comparable to knowing Christ.
 
Philippians 3:8
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,”
 
He was willing to lose, and even suffer, if it meant getting closer to Him.  
 
Phlippians 3:9
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
 
What is our confidence in today?
Who we know? Where we live? What church we attend? What profession we have?
 
All of that is confidence in the flesh. If we choose to trust in the flesh, we will be continually, and eventually completely, disappointed. 
 
Instead, we can choose to place our confidence only in Him, even if that means He has to rewrite our entire story.
 
Philippians 3:10-11
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.”
 
Losing everything in order to know Him is always worth it. 
“…that I may win Christ, And be found in him…That I may know him…”
 
 
Bible Reading:
1 Chronicles 1-2   |    Philippians 1