What card do you play when you want to show your credibility? I know some people say what university they graduated in order to validate themselves. I know others who point to their position at their job. Some talk of their experience and others the people they’re connected with. We all have something we point to that we’re proud of, but what if that was taken away? Who would you be without it? Is the value you place on yourself based on that or in how other people treat you because of it? We all want to be valued in other people’s eyes in one way or another. However, many of the things we point to, won’t matter for eternity.
In Philippians 3 Paul is building his credibility with the readers about who he is so they’ll trust him instead of deceivers. He also goes a little overboard to make a point. He tells them he’s a Hebrew’s Hebrew born of the tribe of Benjamin. He then lets them know he was a strict Pharisee who knew the Law and lived it better than just about anyone. He was also one of the most zealous people in regards to the Law. So much so that he hunted down Christians and killed them. People knew who he was and how religious he was. He had all the credibility you needed and the accolades of people, but when he came to know Christ, his identity ceased to be in those things. He realized it was all superficial, self righteous pride and he wanted to teach us a lesson.
Philippians 3:8 says, ”Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ“ (NLT). Are you holding on to an identity that you’ve created or are you holding on to what Jesus considers as important? The more we let go of the things that this world values, the more we’re able to receive what God has for us. It’s time to be like Paul and throw those things that make us self righteous in the garbage. They may give you the approval of people which can interfere with God’s approval. Your identity and your credibility comes from who you are in Christ and what He’s done for you. It’s time to quit trying to make others think you’re enough when God already says you’re enough.
Photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash
Throwback Thursday is a feature I’m using to help build some margin into my schedule to pursue other ventures. Each Thursday I’ll be bringing you a previously written devotional that still speaks encouragement to us from God’s Word.
