Give it Up? 

  No. 3 of 3

     After Paul told the Philippians what a "faultless" Pharisee he had been, he wrote, "Whatever was to my profit, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

     Paul found "not a righteousness of my own...but that which is through faith in Christ...the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

     He continues, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, somehow to attain to the resurrection from the dead." 

     What a statement!

     Apparently, like Peter and others, Paul was martyred. We read in the book about Augustine that martyrs are the "greatest" of Christians.

     What an honor! 

     Today, true circumcision is the Spirit's work in our hearts, cutting away evil. We claim righteousness only as a gift from God. Jesus set the example for self-denial. He spoke only what he heard from his "Father" above. "The Word was God." - John chapter 1, verse 1.

     As he was about to depart, he told his disciples to wait until they received the Holy Spirit. We - Jewish believers and gentiles - are to abide in the Lord above with the aid of the Spirit within. 

     So, what about our flesh? Are we to chuck all our possessions? John the Baptist wore clothes made of camel's hair. Paul gave up his ways. Missionaries rely on supporters. Jesus said, "Take up your cross (difficulties) and follow me." We all have flesh, but our priorities are not the world's.