daily bible readings

Saul the Pharisee, who would soon become the Apostle Paul, was a well-educated young man, outstripping his peers and growing stronger in his religion each passing day. By all accounts, he was the pin-up boy of the Pharisaic world. Paul sums up his past in Philippians 2:5-6. According to his own testimony, he was ”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; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.” Paul could claim, without exaggeration, that he was ritually faultless. He was exemplary in all respects and had the background of a pure thoroughbred. 

When Saul was called by the Lord Jesus Christ and gave his allegiance to Jesus, everything changed. One could easily think that Paul would not have to change anything or receive any extra wisdom from the Lord. He had it all.  But Paul himself tells us in Philippian 2:7-11, “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 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 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 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, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

The word rubbish is a euphemism for “dung”. Paul joyfully considers everything from his past a loss, a load of dung so that he can find Christ and attain to the resurrection of the dead. Paul willingly gives up his earthly wisdom and earthly learning for the sake of the knowledge and wisdom of Christ Jesus. Paul was trained “under Gamaliel [and] was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers.” (Acts 22:2–3 ). He willingly, even joyfully laid it all aside for the sake of knowing Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.

When we come to Christ Jesus, Paul’s attitude is a great attitude to take on. Rather than seeking to cling to the things of the past and to our achievements in the past, letting go of these things is a far better option. As we come to Christ, he becomes our righteousness and our wisdom.

Christ becomes our righteousness because His righteousness is imputed to our us as we put our faith in Him. As we come to believe that Jesus died on the cross for us and paid for our sins in full, being raised to life for our complete justification (see Romans 4:25), we have no need to cling to our past achievements. They are of no merit before God.

Christ also becomes our wisdom from God. We see the true wisdom of God in Christ, which the world sees as foolishness. The world cannot accept Christ and the things of Christ because it does not have the Spirit of Christ. But, because we have been justified by Christ and set apart for Him, the Spirit dwells with us and interprets to us, the things of Christ. They are no longer foolishness but rather, true and lasting wisdom.

Saul the Pharisee was a violent and angry young man, hell-bent on destroying the breakaway sect of Jews who followed Jesus and proclaimed in Him the resurrection of the dead. He was obsessed with destroying the group. But, Paul would soon meet Jesus face to face and his whole being would be changed. Saul would become the Apostle Paul and would lead thousands, if not millions, of people to see and understand that Christ is the wisdom and righteousness of God. We are included among those who have come to understand more of Christ Jesus because of Pau’s testimony and writings.

PRAYER

Adoration

· Adore God that through faith Christ has become for us wisdom and righteousness from God.

· Adore your Lord and Saviour for He has done everything necessary for you to become a temple of the living God and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Confession

· Take time to confess your sins to the Lord and to ask for forgiveness

Thanks

· Thank God that Jesus has become for you the wisdom and righteousness of God.

· Thank God Almighty that nothing in the world can undo His wisdom and His righteousness and that both have been given to you through faith in Jesus.

Supplication

· Pray that the faith of everyone in your congregation would grow stronger.

· Pray that your faith would also deepen and grow stronger.

· Pray for opportunities to share your faith.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

1. As you think about Paul’s testimony to Christ, flick through the book of Acts and seek to discover what role sharing his own testimony played in his evangelism.

2. List 3 people you would like to share your own testimony with and pray for opportunities.