Verse of the Day - Philippians 3:7

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.
~ Philippians 3:7 (NIV)

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I was flipping channels the other day, and came across a show called, "Real Housewives of Atlanta". Wow -- what a different world from the one I live in. One gal readily admitted her penchant for designer clothes. She said, "I may die tomorrow, but I'll be wearing Ralph Loren [or some other designer]", and then proceeded to flash many hundred-dollar bills at the clerk. Later in the show, she decided one day that she wanted a Cadillac, so she walked into the showroom, and wrote a check for $67,000 dollars. She said, "Do I know if this is a good deal? No. Am I driving away in five minutes? Yes."

In the world of fashion, people really go for name brands, don't they? Whether it be cars, suits, or sun glasses -- names sell. Cadillac, Armani, Calvin Klein...these are big names that garner attention and make money. We're impressed by name brands and we gravitate to be associated with them. They make us feel important and high-profile.

Or how about in the realm of higher education? Names like Harvard, Yale and Stanford -- gee, flash any of those names on your educational pedigree, and you are somebody! But try schmoozing at a black tie community event, telling people that you graduated from a local junior college, and somehow, they're probably not gonna be impressed.

And impressing other people seems to be very important for alot of folks. No different in Paul's day, back in the Bible. Being able to brag about who you are and what you've done and who you know was just as important to boosting ego as it is today. And Paul was "up there" in the religious world -- not unlike many high-profile preachers today. Big name, very public, very zealous, very learned. He had alot to brag about, and I'm sure he flashed all of his credentials at parties. That is, until that great wake-up call on the road to Damascus...

Jesus turned Paul's ego upside down. What seemed important before became unimportant. What gave Paul an ego boost before gave him a bad taste in his mouth. All the personal glory faded like a bad pair of jeans when Jesus became real and personal to Paul. Somehow, all the personal stuff that Paul strived so hard for -- all the education, all the legalism, all the glory -- couldn't stand up to the glory of the Living God when Jesus stood in Paul's heart.

The only name brand that Paul could embrace after coming to faith in Jesus was 'Jesus Christ'. The only name worth sporting was 'King of Kings'. The only diploma worth putting on the wall was from the school of the 'Holy Spirit'. For Paul, everything else was just trash.

Hmm...can we say that about ourselves? Is Jesus so important to us that all else, including those things that boost our ego, is like trash? Is our allegiance and praise and glory for ourselves, or our Lord?

Self-glorification is a form of idolatry and worship, and keeps us from true worship of the One and Only God. Let's work toward the mindset of Paul in Galatians...

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
~ Galatians 2:20 (NIV)

Love,
Joelene