day 10: rubbish...what does that mean?

"but whatever was to my profit i now consider loss for the sake of Christ. what is more, i consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake i have lost all things. i consider them rubbish, that i may gain Christ..."

philippians 3:7-8

dietrich bonhoeffer said, "the call of Jesus teaches us that our relation to the world has been built on an illusion." God shattered paul's illusion on that road to damascus. paul had every reason to boast, by the world's standards. circumcised on the 8th day, an israelite from the tribe of benjamin, a "hebrew of hebrews", a pharisee that followed the law strictly, a zealous persecutor of the church, blameless and righteous. all of his credentials he considered worth less than nothing because he met Jesus.

later on in the book of philippians, paul reveals his secret: "i know what it is to be in need, and i know what it is to have plenty. i have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. i can do everything through him who gives me strength." (philippians 4:12-13) paul learned to find joy, contentment and pleasure in Christ alone.

what illusions pervade my heart? what must i count as loss for the sake of Christ? what credentials do i value and use to seek power, prestige and popularity?

philippians 3:1-14, one of paul's letters to the philippians, includes a warning to beware of dogs and evil workers. a commentary suggests that this is a reference to judaizers - jewish christians who believed that it was important for gentiles to follow all the old testament jewish laws, especially circumcision. many judaizers were motivated by spiritual pride. paul criticized them because of their focus on what they did to make them believers, rather than the free gift of grace given by Christ. i don't hold onto the old testament jewish laws, but i can relate to spiritual pride. am i depending on being good to make me right with God? has my spiritual pride caused me to persecute others? of course not literally, but figuratively?

Lord, shatter my illusions. forgive me for placing value in my credentials and for using them to get ahead and as a result, persecuting others. they are worth less than nothing in comparison to the grace of Christ.