Devotion:
Read Philippians 3:7-14.
Yesterday, we looked at a key passage from one of Paul’s letters to the Corinthians that sums up the reconciliation God has given us through the gift of grace. We can have a good relationship with God, not because of anything we have done, but only because of God’s grace.
In this portion of his letter to the Philippians, Paul is in the midst of sharing that if our relationship with God was about being a good person and following all the rules, he was one of the best at doing that who has ever lived. (He had emphasized humility earlier in the letter, but was not showing it here!) The Pharisees were committed to following all of the Law of the Scriptures and he had graduated at the top of his class at Pharisee University! But once he met the risen Christ, he gave all of those accomplishments up, considered them as “garbage.” He knew they gained him nothing in his relationship with God.
And when anyone comes to that understanding, it makes a tremendous difference in their life. There is such a joy and peace that comes from knowing our salvation is not dependent on us, but is a gift of God. You don’t have to “perform” for God. You don’t have to be perfect. You can simply rest in God’s love and allow this Holy Spirit to guide you to be the best person God created you to be. What a source of joy!
Personal Worship Option:
Brian Wren wrote the words to the hymn “I Come With Joy” in 1968. Here are the first and last verses.
I come with joy to meet my Lord, forgiven, loved and free,
in awe and wonder to recall his life laid down for me.
Together me, together bound, we’ll go our different ways,
and as his people in the world, we’ll live and speak his praise.
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