Sunday Morning Blessing With ECWA Daily Manna

SUNDAY, 17 DECEMBER 2023

TEXT: Philippians 3:1-11

1: Further, my brothers and sisters, 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.

2: Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh.

3: For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

4: though I myself have reasons for such confidence.

5: circumcised 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;

6: as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless.

7: But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.

8: What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

9: and 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 on the basis of faith.

10: I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

11: and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

(New International Version Holy Bible)

TOPIC: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT YOUR CURRICULUM VITAE (CV)?

Paul possessed intimidating and brilliant credentials, social status as well as his own acquired achievements through hard - work and high productivity. However, he did not allow these achievements and education become liabilities to him.

He was educated at the prestigious Jerusalem school of Rabbi Gamaliel (Acts 22:3). It was one of the leading schools of his time, the equivalent of today's Harvard or Cambridge. But Paul now saw the worthlessness of what he previously relied upon - education and social status. He forfeited all of these for the sake of Christ.

In many denominations today, what Paul considered as secondary to doing ministry have become primary qualifications for God's work - education, social standing, connections, charisma devoid of character, etc.

Paul had all these but he was humble enough to admit that he could only do all things through Christ who supplies the needed strength.

QUESTION: Do you think highly of yourself and consider others inferior to you?

PRAYER: Dear Lord, help us, especially our pastors and leaders, to be humble even in our moments of greatness. Amen