If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ--the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. Philippians 3:4-9 (NIV)
The great Apostle Paul was brilliant, focused, determined and a host of other attributes as well prior to his coming to know the Lord Jesus. After his conversion, he used these same giftings for the advancement of God’s kingdom and for the growth of the saints. God has gifted each one of us specifically to do good works which He has prepared in advance for us to walk in as Scripture tells us in Ephesians 2:10 (NIV): “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” God has a plan and a gifting for each life and we are living our best life when we are walking in it. We don’t want to miss it. We are the great losers if we do. Remember as well, our gifts were given to us not for us. They are to be used for the body.
When we come to Jesus, He miraculously begins turning the stream of our affections towards His own. It is a greater work than man can do to give our hearts totally different leanings – taking our affections and pointing them upward requires relinquishment of our wills and God’s work. God does not force us to do anything. His desire is to use us all but many refuse the invitation, to their own harm. When we seek to walk as Jesus walked – pouring our lives out like a drink offering, He ennobles our natures through the power of the Holy Spirit equipping us to do this great work. He takes our natural giftings and desires and turns them heavenly, equipping us to walk as Jesus walked. Doing what He has gifted us to do through His power and for His glory is taking hold of the life that is truly life. All else is so totally other. Flesh is simply not equipped to do things that will make it “through the fire that will test the quality of each man’s work” because it is always tainted in some way. Pride is an insidious monster and robs us of much good. When we place our hope in the power of God working within every believer it stirs up endeavor and enthusiasm and industry as spiritual things are certain and it enables us to continue on – not giving up - when we see our hopes fulfilled. Therefore, we do not lose heart as our labor in the Lord is never in vain.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 (NIV)