Devotionals

                            Overcoming ‘self Sufficiency’
                            By Robert Schaetzle

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ.  Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as refuse, in order that I may gain Christ  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” Philippians 3:7-9RSV

 ‘New birth’ is learning to let go self, that we find our life new in Jesus. A growing and learning process, for sure. Even after three years with our Lord, the Apostles were not there yet. Look at Peter, who was to become the leader of the Jerusalem Church, the night of Jesus’ betrayal denied Him three times.  

The security we demonstrate can either manifest itself as our self-sufficiency, or, the power of His presence at work leading us. We’re to be living and exhibiting a life with Christ as the center of what we’re about. To walk the narrow path he will lead us on, means letting go our ‘self in order grow into the character He created us to become.

How bountiful when we too, can be truly established as was the Apostle Paul: “and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own, based on law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith” Philippians 3:9

“How precious to me are thy thoughts, O God!  How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:17 RSV

Robert lives in Sunnyvale, Ca and serves in a ‘Sharing & Caring Ministry