Insight for Today
A Daily Devotional by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

When God Crushes Our Pride

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I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. (Philippians 3:7–9)

 

As a young scholar, Paul had won bragging rights over all his peers. His heritage, his schooling, his accomplishments, his zeal, his position, his passion were all part of his being groomed for a seat on the Supreme Court of the Jews, the Sanhedrin. That all-powerful name recognition gave him the edge . . . until he was intercepted by the resurrected, sovereign Christ . . . stunned and crushed by the revelation of the Son of God.

 

I remember sitting in chapel back in 1959 at Dallas Theological Seminary, listening to Dr. Alan Redpath, then pastor of the famed Moody Memorial Church. I was taking notes, as I often did while listening to chapel speakers, and suddenly I stopped writing. Dr. Redpath had made a statement that burned its way deeply into the creases of my brain: “When God wants to do an impossible task, He takes an impossible man and crushes him.” In the intervening years I have learned how right Dr. Redpath was. That is often the plan God uses when dealing with strong-willed, stubborn people.

 

Paul was both, so we should not be surprised that he was crushed. That is why verse 7 of Philippians 3 begins with “but.” In effect, Paul admits, “I had achieved all those honors, I had won all the awards, I had gotten all the applause, I had impressed all my contemporaries . . . but God pulled every one of them off the wall. He put all that into correct perspective as He crushed my pride, won my heart, and came to live within me.”

 

I have been justified! God’s love has invaded! Christ’s presence has taken up residence! He has changed me! The load of sin is lifted . . . the source of righteousness has shifted! My relationship with God now rests on faith, not works. What a relief!

 

Paul was clearly a changed man. To his own amazement he began to laugh again. 

 

But what now? Had he arrived? Was there nothing more to do but sit around and dream? No. In his own words, “I press on” (Philippians 3:12).