UNMERITED GRACE
“though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 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; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” Philippians 3:4-7 NIV
I always tell people that the favor of God does not need to make sense.
In our theme scripture, Paul is trying to warn the converts in Philippi that what they received by the grace of God through Christ cannot be earned, so there shouldn’t be any false teaching telling people to do things in order to be saved.
Paul was previously everything that one could covet to be, in order to be approved in that society as a man of right standing among the saints, yet his way proved to be wrong in the end. The same way he had experienced the unmerited grace of God was the way he was encouraging others to be. Child of God we are living in times where everything is instant gratification and competition. Everyone knows someone who can put a word in for work, everyone wants to be a leader yet none want to start as followers, everyone is valued based on what they produce versus who they are in Christ and what they were worth (His blood). But not so with you, Christians.
Let the report that precedes be that of a man/ woman who is followed by grace and mercy, who understands how greatly loved they have been and as a result loves the others just as much if not more. Let it be known of you that in all your attempts, you seek to live in peace with all men (Romans 12:18). In this way, you won’t put any confidence in the flesh! Hallelujah.
Prayer: Father I thank you for this wisdom. I know how greatly I have been loved and that motivates me to love even those I may think do not deserve it. May your light ever so shine bright through me that it spurs men to love and seek you, in Jesus precious name. Amen!
CI.
