Philippians 3:8–11

"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!"

 

Paul could have depended on his own qualifications to make him "good enough," but he did not. He trusted God's work in Jesus alone. His goal was not to become perfect or even acceptable to God, but to know Jesus—even if it meant knowing Jesus through suffering. On what are you depending today for being at peace with God, yourself, and others?

Isaiah 66:2

"'I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts, who tremble at my word.'"

 

Is it difficult to be in a position to be blessed by God? All it takes is a humble and contrite heart and an attitude of submission to his word. That's all God asks of us! No religious ceremonies, no acts of devotion. The acts come after the heart is right. God is after the heart. If you've not experienced his blessing in some area, check your heart, especially with regard to pride and humility. If God is speaking to you about something, listen and do what he says. Blessing will follow

Philippians 2:3–4

"Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don't look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too."

 

 

This advice runs counter to the world's injunction that you learn to promote yourself. Yet, this is God's way. True humility means understanding the truth about yourself. We tend naturally to put our own interests above others, so viewing others as better than yourself will probably help you strike just the right balance. Besides, when you take this stance, you're not trying to impress others. There is freedom in not feeling you have to impress others, and that's what Paul wants for his readers. If you forget about impressing others, you're freer to love them. And they will respond!

—Diane Eble, author of Abundant Gifts: A Daybook of Grace-Filled Devotions