Wednesday, October 7, 2015

“There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

 

ISAIAH 37-38

Hezekiah and the kingdom are saved and after an illness God extends his life 15 years.  In response Hezekiah writes..

17Surely it was for my benefit

that I suffered such anguish.

In your love you kept me

from the pit of destruction;

you have put all my sins

behind your back.

PHILIPPIANS 3

Paul claims that if anyone had reason to boast in the flesh...he did. Because of this he now considers the price of following Christ.

 

7But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ 9and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^a Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith...

 

JOURNAL

 

Both Hezekiah and Paul were powerful men that had every reason to trust their own goodness.  The world had honored them and given them a place of power.  Yet neither of them considered this of value.  They both pursued God's wisdom and as a result they experienced peace and a confidence in knowing the God of the Universe was with them.