Put No Confidence in the Flesh
The Apostle Paul knew that there was no good thing in him (Rom. 7:18-19). Even Jesus knew that no one is good but God alone (Luke 18:19). Jesus was not just saying that to show how humble He was; He meant it!
Jesus was mighty in deeds and words in the sight of God. He always did things that were pleasing to God, and He did them in His Father’s name rather than for His own glory (John 21:25; 10:25; 8:29; Luke 24:19; Acts 10:38). Christ was raised from the dead because He lived to glorify the Father with good works (Rom. 6:4; John 5:29). Jesus glorified the Father while He was on earth and He was gentle and humble in heart (Matt. 11:29; John 17:4).
Today, God is making the same kind of people - people who are zealous for good works (Titus 2:14). We purify ourselves from every lawless deed and overcome our evil natures by keeping Jesus Christ’s works (Rev. 2:26). Jesus even said we would do greater works than He did (John 14:12).
Those who put confidence in the flesh are those who think they are not such bad people. The good they do puffs them up and fortifies the assumption that they are good people. On the other hand, Jesus and Paul both knew that no matter how much good they did while in the flesh, it would not make them good people (Luke 18:19; Rom. 7:15-21). That is why the good they did was to glorify the Father and not self. They lived to glorify the Spirit (which is God), not the flesh.
Think about this. Can you think of any other way of overcoming evil other than by doing good? If you did good to glorify self, would that not then be evil?
Instead of seeking your own good, the Lord wants you to seek the good of your neighbor, as a happy slave of Christ, doing the Will of God from the heart (1 Cor. 10:24; Col. 3:17; Eph. 6:6). If you empty yourself and take on the form of a servant as Christ did, you will have perfect peace and you will be giving that which is within as charity (Phil. 2:7; Matt. 20:26-28; 23:11; Mark 9:35; 10:43-45; Luke 11:41). Why? Because a servant of Christ knows that if he only serves his Master, his Master will take care of all his needs and will also glorify him with eternal life.
To listen to this article, click here to take you to the voice-over edition.