Read Philippians 3:1-11 in your personal Bible or at the link provided.
Discover
A lot of conflict in the early church came from a group of Jews who started following Jesus but couldn’t let go of their Jewish religion and its requirements. In response, Paul listed his resume. He said, “I’ve followed every rule, checked every box, gone to the best school, come from the best home on the best side of town.” In the end, Paul said that everything he put his trust in and got his entitlement from was garbage. None of it mattered in light of what Jesus had done.
In our own lives, it’s easy to put our confidence in human effort, to constantly try to prove ourselves and our worth. But true joy and freedom are found in dying to ourselves. In the midst of conflict, our role is to let Jesus be greater. This boils down to a reframing of our trust – to trust in what Jesus has done rather than what man can do. The more we walk with Jesus, the less it becomes about us.
• Reframe your trust. When you think back on your own personal resume – background, home life, education, experiences – what do you view as most valuable among the list? Drill down a little more in that area, and ask God to reveal ways you’re placing your worth in things that are meaningless in light of what Jesus has done. How is this contributing to conflict in your life? Pray through these prompts as you move into response.
Respond
Use your Philippians Guidebook to reflect and respond. For a digital copy of the guidebook, visit tpcc.org/rebels-guide.
Want to go deeper? Look up the following verses to see how John the Baptist addressed conflict by reframing his trust and proclaiming that Jesus is greater. Note what you observe and then continue with your time of response.
• John 3:23-30