Letting Go of Pride

March 13/2016

Opening Hymns:
714 I Know Whom I Have Believed http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh714.sht

Scripture Reading:
Philippians 3:4b-14
3:4b If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:

3:5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;

3:6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.

3:7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.

3:8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.

3:10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,

3:11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

3:12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.

3:13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

3:14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.

Message:
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross is one of my favorite Christian songs. It is so powerfully beautiful, I especially love the line “My richest gain I count but loss, and pour contempt on all my pride.” In the scripture today Paul describes how justified he was according to the law and the Jewish tradition. He was born from the right family, he followed the commandments and laws, and he had an honorable job. Yet, he was persecuting God’s church. While it was a good life for him to live, and he was socially accepted and seen as righteous, God showed him a new way.

Jesus came to him, and helped him see a better path to follow. A path where everyone can be loved and accepted, not just because of the family they were born into. A path where society’s beliefs didn’t dictate who was righteous. Where the weak, poor, and sick would be shown compassion, love, and care. Where all our works, family ties, or gifts can’t buy our salvation.  

Society can still effect how we act. Our peer groups may change our ideas and attitudes about the world. But though the church has changed and evolved over the years with our cultures, its message remains the same. It is a message of love and forgiveness. We are still called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are still told that our own works and actions do not bring us to salvation. Only the forgiveness that comes from God can lead us to eternal life. Paul left everything he had so that he could follow Jesus. Can we too let go of our pride, humble ourselves, and follow our Lord?

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for Your gift of love and forgiveness. Let us remember to always seek out and follow You. Guide and strengthen each of us on this day. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
298 When I Survey the Wondrous Cross http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh298.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God