Christianity Oasis Forum

[cimi]

September 15
Tuesday


LETTING GO

READ:
Philippians 3:3-11
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What things were gain
to me, these I have
counted loss for Christ.
__Philippians 3:7
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It has been said that "one person's junk is another's treasure." When David Dudley tried to help his parents clear their house of "unnecessary items" before moving to a smaller home, he found it very difficult. He was often angered by his parents' refusal to part with things they had not used for decades. Finally, David's father helped him understand that even the worn-out, useless items were tied to close friends and important events. Clearing the clutter felt like throwing away their very lives.

A spiritual parallel to our reluctance to let go of the clutter in our homes may be our inability to clear our hearts of the attitudes that weigh us down.

For many years, Saul of Tarsus clung to the "righteousness" he had earned by obeying God's law. His pedigree and performance were prized possessions until he encountered Jesus in a blinding moment on the Damascus Road (Acts 9:1-8). Face to face with the risen Savior, he let go of his cherished self-effort and later wrote, "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ" (Phil. 3:7).

When the Holy Spirit urges us to release our grip on any attitude that keeps us from following Christ, we find true freedom in letting go.
__ David McCasland

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`````````Speak to us, Lord, till shamed by Thy great giving```````````
````````````Our hands unclasp to set our treasures free;````````````
````````Our wills, our love, our dear ones, our possessions,``````````
````````All gladly yielded, gracious Lord, to Thee. __Anon.```````````
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Through Christ we have the freedom to let go.

***********Today's Bible Reading __ Philippians 3:3-11*************

3 For we are the
circumcision, who worship
God in the spirit, rejoice in
Christ Jesus, and have no
confidence in the flesh,

4 though I also might have
confidence in the flesh. If
anyone else thinks he may
have confidence in the
flesh, I more so:

5 circumcised the eighth
day, of the stock of Israel,
of the tribe of Benjamin, a
Hebrew of the Hebrews;
concerning the law, a
Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal,
persecuting the church;
concerning the
righteousness which is in
the law, blameless.

7 But what things were
gain to me, these I have
counted loss for Christ.

8 Yet indeed I also count all
things loss for the
excellence of the
knowledge of Christ Jesus
my Lord, for whom I have
suffered the loss of all
things, and count them as
rubbish, that I may gain
Christ 9 and be found in
Him, not having my own
righteousness, which is
from the law, but that which
is through faith in Christ,
the righteousness which is
from God by faith; 10 that I
may know Him and the
power of His resurrection,
and the fellowship of His
sufferings, being conformed
to His death, 11 if, by any
means, I may attain to the
resurrection from the dead.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

The Philippian church had been infiltrated by legalists. These
Judaizers were religious leaders who insisted that Christians keep
the Mosaic law. Filled with pride, the Judaizers drew attention
to their Jewish credentials. Ironically, Paul's own impressive
accomplishments excelled theirs. But he had long ago abandoned
his reliance on them when he came to faith in Christ (v.7).
__DENNIS FISHER